Leisure Parcs says it will press ahead with plans for a Pharaohs Palace on the seafront at Blackpool after the Government unveiled its gaming White Paper.
It will be the first of six giant hotel casinos for the Lancashire town. It hopes to open between 2004-2006. However, the White Paper rejects the idea of allowing Blackpool an initial monopoly for becoming a casino resort.
Ladbrokes plans to spend £20m this year on new betting shops with Italian-style cafes in cities across the country.
The Times says a proliferation of “multi-gaming centres” will spread throughout Britains major cities rather than Las Vegas-style gambling resorts dominating seaside towns.
Rank said they would be like “gaming supermarkets” with towns such as Harrogate, Telford, Morecambe and Folkestone interested in getting in on the act.
Rank is looking at opening gambling “sheds” in major cities such as Manchester, Liverpool, London and Birmingham.
Financial Times 27/03/02 page 3, page 23 (Lombard)
The Times 27/03/02 page 15, page 26 (Need to know)
The Independent 27/03/02 page 15, page 3 (Review), page 4 (Review), page 5 (Review)
The Guardian 27/03/02 page 4, page 21 (Leader)
