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Casino work already begun in London
Message was posted: 08:10 Aug 23rd, 2006

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Casino work already begun in London The Denver Business Journal - 5:55 PM MDT Tuesday Construction on a proposed casino at London's Millennium Dome, being redeveloped by one of Denver billionaire Phil Anschutz's companies, has started without a license from the British government, according to a British press report. Anschutz Entertainment Group LLC (AEG) of Los Angeles also has said it will scale back the dome's redevelopment "considerably," if it doesn't get the casino license, The Times of London recently reported. That downsizing could include scrapping two hotels, a theater and an exhibition area. The 150,000-square-foot casino and its license have been the subject of controversy this summer, as Britain's Parliament and Scotland Yard launched investigations into possible conflict of interest at meetings between Anschutz and Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott related to the Millennium Dome's redevelopment. Among those meetings was a visit by Prescott to Anschutz's Colorado ranch last year. At issue is whether or not Prescott violated British law against accepting hospitality and gifts that might make him obliged to the giver, or appear to be obliged. AEG admitted this week that it has already built the shell of the Las Vegas-type "super casino" at the dome, according to The Times. The Casino Advisory Panel charged with granting the license to one of six finalists is scheduled to award the license in December. Conservatives claim the construction work shows the government must already have assured AEG it will acquire the casino license, The Times said. The Millennium Dome on London's Greenwich Peninsula is the core of a new, $1.1 billion entertainment venue called The O2 being developed by AEG. The Anschutz company's partner in the casino is Kerzner International Ltd. of the Bahamas, which would build, own and operate the casino. AEG said it had to start on the casino shell early because it's too expensive to wait until December to start construction, The Times reported. The casino should open in 18 months if Kerzner, the official applicant for the license, gets it. The developer also has issued a "stark warning" to the advisory panel that if it doesn't get the license, it will drastically downsize The O2 project. AEG would cut two luxury hotels, a 1,800-seat theater and an exhibition area. The project also is slated to include an 11-screen movie theater and restaurants. AEG expects to open The O2 expects in July 2007. The venue already is scheduled to host Summer Olympics events in 2012 and the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in 2009. Denver Business Journal