New British PM Kills Supercasino Plan

Plans for a British supercasino have been scrapped thanks to new Prime Minister Gordon Brown. The decision was not well received in Manchester, the proposed site of the casino, and the six-year struggle cost taxpayers and the gambling industry millions of pounds.

Under PM Tony Blair, six casinos were put on a short list to run the supercasino. Each spent up to 200,000 pounds on their bids, and the Casino Advisory Panel, which made the final selection, cost 400,000 pounds.

However, plans will still move forward for building 16 smaller casinos in England, but they will not contain the unlimited-stake, unlimited-prize slot machines that the supercasino had promised.

Mr. Brown did vote in favor of the legislation when Tony Blair was PM, and his reversal on the matter had drawn accusations of hypocrisy from many camps. But, in fairness, the supercasino issue has been on shaky ground since March when the order authorizing the facility in Manchester was voted down by the House of Lords by three votes.

“This is an issue on which there is no consensus found in the two Houses of Parliament,” said Brown. “And it is an issue now subject to reflection over the next few months.”

Sir Richard Leese, leader of the Manchester City Council, seemed unfazed by the news of Brown’s decision.

“There is no need for panic,” he said. “We will continue to push for a destination casino in East Manchester, which we believe will deliver the maximum regeneration benefits.”

For more casino stories, click the following links:

UK Supercasino Voted Down by House of Lords

New Harrahs Casino in Biloxi

New British PM Kills Supercasino Plan