Southport Lags Behind in UK Small Casino Bid
Southport is falling behind in the race to win a license for a new casino boasting up to 80 slot machines it was revealed July 24, 2006.
With just eight licenses available in the small category, it means Southport faces an uphill fight to be successful when a final decision is made in December.
The town's bid to open a so-called "small" casino, offering maximum jackpots of 4,000 UK Pounds, was ranked only the 22nd most impressive application on last month's shortlist.
However, a spokeswoman for the independent Casino Advisory Panel insisted there was still time for struggling bids to improve their ranking.
Last month, the panel announced that Southport had made the shortlist for the casino license, knocking St. Helens and Chester out of the race altogether.
Sefton Borough Council is eager to attract an operator to Southport as part of 4 million UK Pounds plans to transform the town center, although there is no specification proposal drawn up yet.
Although "small", the casino would still dwarf the town's only current casino, on Lord Street, covering up to 750 square meters and possibly boasting a major bookmaker.
Some experts have warned towns and cities will be "haunted" by the decision to go for a casino, claiming it will send local businesses to the wall to put the jobless back to work.