Casino news from http://www.theherald.co.uk/
Scotland is lying second behind the controversial Millennium Dome in the race to land the UK's only supercasino licence.
The government's casino advisory panel, which will recommend the location of the sole Las Vegas-style regional supercasino, has placed Glasgow's bid just behind Greenwich in a ratings table assessing the 67 bids.
Officials also said that local authorities that did not make the list of potential supercasino sites - including Blackpool, Brent, Cardiff, Greenwich, Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield - could still be in the running for large or small casinos. There will be eight of each.
The result is a huge boost for Glasgow, particularly after the recent adverse publicity surrounding Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott and the casino bid at the Dome.
Members of the advisory panel assessed factors such as social impact, the need for regeneration, and willingness to licence before giving the Dome the highest rating, followed closely by Glasgow.
Glasgow scored highly in terms of regeneration benefits, willingness to licence, probability of implementation and its general ability to attract visitors.
However, it was beaten by Cardiff, the Millennium Dome and Blackpool in its "regional context" and transport connections to the wider area.
Professor Stephen Crow, chairman of the casino advisory panel, said: "The panel has decided to announce an additional period within which further submission may be made by local authorities. Any local authority that has previously submitted a proposal in any of the regional, large and small categories will be able to make further submissions to the panel."
West Dunbartonshire and Midlothian councils dropped out of the running for a licence to create a giant gambling venue with up to 1250 slot machines.
The recommendations by the casino advisory panel will eventually be put to Tessa Jowell, Culture Secretary, while the successful bid is expected to be announced early next year.
Potential sites for the Glasgow casino include the £1bn Glasgow Harbour development, Rangers FC's Ibrox stadium, and the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre.
Rodney Brody, UK representative of Las Vegas Sands, the firm behind the Ibrox stadium bid, said the news was a huge step forward for Glasgow.
"This is great news for Glasgow but I am surprised that the Millennium Dome is in first place as the Olympic Games regeneration covers the same area. I look forward to September and the next round of the process," he said.
Tom Allison, chief executive of Peel Ports, which is involved in the Glasgow Harbour project, Mike Closier, SECC chief executive, and Rangers officials all said they would do everything possible to make the case for Glasgow.
Steven Purcell, Glasgow City Council's leader, said: "Glasgow has made a strong economic and social case for winning the single regional casino licence and I'm pleased this has been recognised by the advisory panel. There is still some way to go, but we're in it to win."
Scotland is lying second behind the controversial Millennium Dome in the race to land the UK's only supercasino licence.
The government's casino advisory panel, which will recommend the location of the sole Las Vegas-style regional supercasino, has placed Glasgow's bid just behind Greenwich in a ratings table assessing the 67 bids.
Officials also said that local authorities that did not make the list of potential supercasino sites - including Blackpool, Brent, Cardiff, Greenwich, Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield - could still be in the running for large or small casinos. There will be eight of each.
The result is a huge boost for Glasgow, particularly after the recent adverse publicity surrounding Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott and the casino bid at the Dome.
Members of the advisory panel assessed factors such as social impact, the need for regeneration, and willingness to licence before giving the Dome the highest rating, followed closely by Glasgow.
Glasgow scored highly in terms of regeneration benefits, willingness to licence, probability of implementation and its general ability to attract visitors.
However, it was beaten by Cardiff, the Millennium Dome and Blackpool in its "regional context" and transport connections to the wider area.
Professor Stephen Crow, chairman of the casino advisory panel, said: "The panel has decided to announce an additional period within which further submission may be made by local authorities. Any local authority that has previously submitted a proposal in any of the regional, large and small categories will be able to make further submissions to the panel."
West Dunbartonshire and Midlothian councils dropped out of the running for a licence to create a giant gambling venue with up to 1250 slot machines.
The recommendations by the casino advisory panel will eventually be put to Tessa Jowell, Culture Secretary, while the successful bid is expected to be announced early next year.
Potential sites for the Glasgow casino include the £1bn Glasgow Harbour development, Rangers FC's Ibrox stadium, and the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre.
Rodney Brody, UK representative of Las Vegas Sands, the firm behind the Ibrox stadium bid, said the news was a huge step forward for Glasgow.
"This is great news for Glasgow but I am surprised that the Millennium Dome is in first place as the Olympic Games regeneration covers the same area. I look forward to September and the next round of the process," he said.
Tom Allison, chief executive of Peel Ports, which is involved in the Glasgow Harbour project, Mike Closier, SECC chief executive, and Rangers officials all said they would do everything possible to make the case for Glasgow.
Steven Purcell, Glasgow City Council's leader, said: "Glasgow has made a strong economic and social case for winning the single regional casino licence and I'm pleased this has been recognised by the advisory panel. There is still some way to go, but we're in it to win."
Scotland is lying second behind the controversial Millennium Dome in the race to land the UK's only supercasino licence.
The government's casino advisory panel, which will recommend the location of the sole Las Vegas-style regional supercasino, has placed Glasgow's bid just behind Greenwich in a ratings table assessing the 67 bids.
Officials also said that local authorities that did not make the list of potential supercasino sites - including Blackpool, Brent, Cardiff, Greenwich, Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield - could still be in the running for large or small casinos. There will be eight of each.
The result is a huge boost for Glasgow, particularly after the recent adverse publicity surrounding Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott and the casino bid at the Dome.
Members of the advisory panel assessed factors such as social impact, the need for regeneration, and willingness to licence before giving the Dome the highest rating, followed closely by Glasgow.
Glasgow scored highly in terms of regeneration benefits, willingness to licence, probability of implementation and its general ability to attract visitors.
However, it was beaten by Cardiff, the Millennium Dome and Blackpool in its "regional context" and transport connections to the wider area.
Professor Stephen Crow, chairman of the casino advisory panel, said: "The panel has decided to announce an additional period within which further submission may be made by local authorities. Any local authority that has previously submitted a proposal in any of the regional, large and small categories will be able to make further submissions to the panel."
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