The Government’s decision to give a large casino in Great Yarmouth a green light has been greeted with enthusiasm by the Borough Council.

When the casino gets under way it is hoped that it will create hundreds of new jobs and help to make the town a year-round resort.

Welcoming the news, Graham Plant, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Tourism said “This is a huge opportunity for Great Yarmouth.   A number of developers have already said they will be very interested in the new licence. They see it as an opportunity to not only build a casino but also to provide a range of other amenities such as quality hotels, conference facilities and other entertainment attractions.”

“We are already working with these developers and we now expect the level of activity to pick up sharply. With its revitalised sea-front and the arrival of the £100m outer harbour, investors are seeing Great Yarmouth as an excellent prospect.”

Explaining the next steps after the announcement Chris Skinner, Head of Central Services said:  “This is a really exciting prospect but people should not expect development to take place overnight. The law stipulates that we have to undergo a two stage licensing process, and I would expect this to take up to two years or even longer if there is a lot of competition.”

“Our first task is to ensure that all parties who are interested in promoting a casino have a reasonable time to develop and promote their proposals.”  

“After that, formal applications will firstly be judged against the technical criteria in the Gambling Act 2005. All those that meet these standards will then go through to the second stage of the process, where the Council will have to decide which particular application brings the greatest benefits to the Borough.”  

“The criteria to be applied at the second stage of the process are currently being developed. They could include: the design and location of the new casino; the number and type of other facilities that will be included as part of the development; and the regeneration benefits that the casino operator will provide. The views of the public and stakeholders will be welcomed when the formal consultation process begins.

“In the meantime any prospective developers who wish to become involved in the process are invited to make contact with the Borough Council.”

For further information contact: Councillor Graham Plant, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Tourism on 01493 601800, for details of the licensing and consultation processes Chris Skinner, Head of Central Services on 01493 846314 or Peter Hardy, Executive Director, Economy and Environment, on 07909 532641.