Terms for UK Super-Casino Bids Released

The United Kingdom has now released the official terms that will govern bidding for a new wave of casinos to be licensed in the country. This includes one Las Vegas style super-casino to be built in Manchester, and a number of smaller local casinos as well.

In a surprise move last month, the Government announced that Manchester would become host to the country's first super casino. The move was unexpected by most, with Blackpool being the leading favorite to win this coveted casino license.

The new super casino will be somewhat small by Las Vegas standards, but will be the largest casino to operate in the United Kingdom. It will have 5,000 square meters of space on the gaming floor, and feature 1,250 slot machines. The super casino will provide 2,700 new jobs in Manchester. In addition to the super casino, sixteen other communities will host smaller gambling locations.

A large number of gambling companies are expected to submit bids to build and run the Manchester super casino. First on many people's minds is Harrahs Entertainment, the world's largest casino operator. Given their global expansion, it is reasonable to also expect bids from Harrahs' chief competitor, Las Vegas Sands Corporation.

The Department of Culture, Media and Sport, who overseas gambling licensing in the United Kingdom, has released a statement mandating that local licensing authorities must run fair and honest competitions to determine who will be allowed to operate the casinos.

Other companies expected to place bids on the properties include Rank, Kerzner International, Genting and MGM. However, it is a local company that is setting the highest sites for operating not only the super casino in Manchester, but for a number of smaller casinos as well. UK-based Ladbrokes has announced that they will be a contender for a number of the casinos that are up for grabs in the United Kingdom.

The announcement was made as Ladbrokes earnings reports showed higher than expected profits for 2006. The report showed the company boasting pre-tax profits of £246.5m, a 6 percent increase over the previous year.