Casino news from http://news.scotsman.com:80/
A BID to open a casino on the site of a former bingo hall and dance venue in Fountainbridge has been knocked back by city licensing chiefs for the third time.
Grosvenor Casinos tried to prove that Edinburgh had fewer gambling venues than any other city in Scotland in a bid to win approval for its plans for the former Mecca Bingo Hall and Palais de Danse.
But the proposals have attracted protests from residents who fear such a move would lead to more antisocial behaviour in the area. The city's licensing board refused to back the plans on the basis they believe there are already enough casinos in the Capital.
The planned Fountainbridge casino would have been the fifth in the city, adding to ones in Leith, York Place, South Maybury Road and one due to open at Fountainpark. Licensing board convener councillor Phil Attridge said he was still unconvinced there was a need for the new facility. He added: "It has not been proved that there are insufficient facilities in Edinburgh, despite the claims that other cities in Scotland have a higher provision of casinos. This proposal does not offer anything new, just more of the same."
The application was originally lodged in March, when licensing chiefs turned it down on the grounds there was no significant demand for a new casino.
Casino bosses appealed to the Sheriff Court, which ruled the licensing board should reconsider and give more evidence to back up any future refusal.
When the application came before the board for a second time, licensing chiefs turned it down again. They cited figures from the Gambling Commission which showed the city's existing casinos were not operating at capacity.
Grosvenor returned to the Sheriff Court, which said the council still needed to give a clearer explanation for its decision. Yesterday, the licensing board quoted new sections of the Gaming Act 1968 to back up its decision.
Lawyers for Grosvenor argued before the licensing board that Edinburgh had fewer casinos per head than Glasgow, Aberdeen or Dundee.
In Edinburgh, there was around one casino for every 89,000 people, compared to one for every 50,000 in Glasgow, it said. The company also argued the plans would help to improve the appearance of the building, which has been empty since Mecca Bingo opened new premises at nearby Fountainpark earlier this year.
Councillor Brian Fallon urged the board to give the plans the go-ahead, arguing it would provide a "facility of the highest quality" that would encourage competition. Three of the Capital's current casinos are run by Grosvenor's rivals, Stanley Casinos.
Councillor Eric Milligan backed him, saying: "The building has been a bingo hall for many years, so this application will not be a complete change of use. People have gambled in these premises for many years and I do not believe that there is an over-provision of casinos in Edinburgh."
Councillors eventually voted by eight votes to five to turn down Grosvenor's application. No-one from Grosvenor Casinos was available for comment.
Fountainbridge councillor Lorna Shiels said: "The feedback I have had from local residents has always suggested that they don't want another casino on their doorstep."
This article: http://news.scotsman.com/edinburgh.cfm?id=1610312006
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