“A substantial investment”
The owners of Chelmsford City Racecourse in Chelmsford, Essex, UK have announced plans to add a £50 million (US$62 million) casino and entertainment facility at the track.
According to the Chelmsford Weekly News, the expansion and renovation of the course in Great Leighs will create more than 100 jobs and “triple the number of people the track can house under cover.”
Majority stakeholder Betfred issued a statement saying it is “an exciting project” and “a substantial investment in the race track. We hope the plans are given the go-ahead and we can bring a higher standard of races to Chelmsford.”
The news prompted comment from a former gambling addict who warned the greater access to gambling can be harmful. “I’m no party-pooper, and I believe there is nothing wrong with gambling if you gamble responsibly,” said Ian Semel, founder of the counseling service Breakeven. “But it’s a numbers game. The more time people spend gambling, the more chance there is in developing a problem. And the more people who gamble, the more people who will develop a problem.”
Councillor Neil Gulliver declared that such concerns are “something for the licensing committee to discuss” and said he doesn’t believe “this will encourage more people to gamble.
“Broadly speaking, I welcome any development that creates employment in the city of Chelmsford,” said Gulliver. “I think the casino development will be a popular addition to the employment and leisure scene in the city. I think that casinos are part of most major cities today and it is important to have choice.”
If the plan is approved by the local government, a portion of an existing grandstand would be repurposed as a casino. The plan also shows that about two-thirds of the ground would be used for outside concerts, reported the Weekly.
