CASINO CONTROL BILL FOR PUBLIC CONSULTATION (Singapore)

(source: CAP May 24, 2006)

CASINO ADVISORY PANEL PUBLISHES SHORTLIST OF SUCCESSFUL PROPOSALS
The Casino Advisory Panel today announced a provisional shortlist of successful proposals which will be taken forward for further evaluation.
After an invitation in January for local authorities to submit proposals, the Panel initially received 68 formal proposals from local authorities (though one proposal was later withdrawn, leaving 67 to be considered). The examination of proposals began at once, using a combination of evaluation and reasoned discussion, related to the Panel’s terms of reference and Government policy generally. These deliberations have produced a provisional short list which the Panel believe should go forward for further examination. A similar process was used in respect of proposals for large and small casinos, bearing in mind that some submissions contained a fall back position proposing one or more casinos in these categories.
This process yielded a provisional shortlist of 8 competing proposals for the regional and 31 large and small casinos:
Regional: Blackpool; Brent; Cardiff; Glasgow; Greenwich; Manchester; Newcastle; Sheffield.
Large and Small: Bath & NE Somerset; Bournemouth; Brighton; Canterbury; Chelmsford; Dartford; Dudley; Dumfries and Galloway; East Lindsey; Gt Yarmouth; Hastings; Hull; Leeds; Leicester; Luton; Mansfield; Middlesbrough; Milton Keynes; Newham; N E Lincs; Peterborough; Restormel; Scarborough; Sefton; Solihull; Southampton; South Tyneside; Swansea; Thurrock; Torbay; Wolverhampton
Chairman of the Panel, Professor Stephen Crow, said today,
“I know that our decisions will cause disappointment to some, not least to authorities who had looked to their casino proposal as a means of alleviating severe problems of deprivation or even improving social conditions and meeting the need for economic regeneration. But the competition
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
has been very strong, and so it is inevitable that some proposals, good enough though they may be in themselves, have to yield before more powerfully justified cases.
“As for those who have successfully accomplished this stage, they have further rigorous examination to undergo before the final decisions are made. The provisional shortlists are now to be the subject of consultation before finalisation. This will be the occasion for consultees (Regional Planning Bodies, Regional Development Agencies and comparable bodies in Wales and Scotland) to pass to the Panel any further views and for members of the public to express their opinions on the proposals, whether of opposition or support. Here the public is reminded that national policy about casinos has already been decided by Parliament. The help here that the Panel is requesting is for people’s views on the broad location of casinos.
“We would ask that any such representations be made to us by 28th June 2006.
“After this consultation, the Panel will further test the strength of selected competing proposals. This will be done either through the medium of public “round table” conferences based on the method of examination-in-public (EiP) or through the examination and consideration of written representations and other material. EiPs are likely to take place from the end of August to the end of September and will be limited to proposals for the regional casino. Proposals for large and small casinos will be examined on the basis of written evidence.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
1. The examination of proposals began with consideration with a view to their sifting and thinning down to manageable numbers for further examination, having regard to the set criteria and Government policy generally. The output of this activity has been a short-list for further examination, having regard to the set criteria and Government policy generally.
2. Before final decisions are made on the selection of proposals for further examination, consultation will be made with Regional Planning Bodies, Regional Development Agencies and comparable bodies in Wales and Scotland, and representations for further consideration will be invited.
3. In addition to the seeking of further information in writing, the Panel will test the strength of selected competing proposals. This may be done either through the medium of public “round table” conferences based on the method of examination-in-public (EiP) or through the examination and consideration of written representations and other material. EiPs are likely to take place from the end of August to the end of September and will be limited to proposals for the regional casino. Proposals for large and small casinos will be examined on the basis of written evidence.
4. A progress report will be made at the conclusion of this phase setting out what has been done. It will not speak as to the merits of any proposals.
5. The Gambling Act recently passed by Parliament will allow three new types of casinos to operate in Britain. One “regional casino” will be permitted, along with eight large and eight small casinos.
6. It is expected that the regional casino will have a minimum total customer area of 5,000 m², and be permitted up to 1,250 Category A unlimited jackpot gaming machines. Large casinos will have a minimum total customer area
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
of 1,500 m², and be permitted up to 150 Category B gaming machines, with a maximum jackpot of £4,000. Small casinos will have a minimum total customer area of 750m², and be permitted up to 80 Category B gaming machines, with a maximum jackpot of £4,000. The one regional and eight large casinos will be permitted to offer bingo, and all three categories will be permitted to offer betting.
7. The Advisory Panel’s task is to recommend to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport the areas where the one regional casino and eight large and eight small casinos would best be located. The primary criterion, as laid down by the Secretary of State is:
• to ensure that locations satisfy the need for the best possible test of social impact (which may require a range of locations of different kinds such as seaside resorts, edge of town developments or inner city centres);
Subject to that, the Secretary of State has also asked the Panel;
• to include areas in need of regeneration (as measured by unemployment and other social deprivation data) and which are likely to benefit in these terms from a new casino;
• to ensure that those areas selected are willing to license a new casino.
8. The Panel has been asked to provide its recommendations to the Secretary of State by the end of 2006.
9. The main contact for anything contained within this press notice will be: Jane Bransby, Secretary to the Casino Advisory Panel, tel. 020 7211 6453 or email jane.bransby@culture.gsi.gov.uk