UK gaming giant Rank Group wants to build a casino in Belfast and is sounding out city officials on their interest.
The plan faces a significant obstacle, however, in the fact that casinos are illegal in Northern Ireland, and although legislation to update the province’s gaming laws is slated for consideration next year, there doesn’t appear to any great sentiment to rescind the ban. The Department of Social Development and its chief, Nelson McCausland, have previously ruled out allowing casinos.
Rank has mentioned land along Belfast Lough as a possible location for the facility, which would include restaurants and a cinema among its attractions, and is talking with members of the Belfast Council Development Committee to solicit their views.
The venue would provide more than 200 jobs, Rank says.
