UK ‘Supercasino’ Scrapped

Plans for a £32 million (US$49.8 million) “supercasino” in Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire in the UK are unlikely to proceed, according to the English city’s mayor. But city council members say all may not be lost.

Middlesbrough, England Mayor Dave Budd says plans for a casino in the city will likely be scrapped. “I think the idea of an enormous casino which would be the center of hotels and everything else around is a bit unlikely. It doesn’t seem to have happened anywhere,” he told the Middlesbrough Gazette.

Council members refuted that statement, saying Gurney Casino Ltd., part of provisional license holder Jomast, is still talking to potential operators. Jomast was licensed in 2012 and had hoped to start the first phase of the £32 million (US$49.8 million) development by early 2013.

A December report to council said the “casino market is not showing the same appetite for development… but it is anticipated that as the economy continues to grow this will change accordingly.”