Rank Group, one of the best known UK casino operators, once again tried to convince Northern Ireland to grant them permission for building a gaming venture in Belfast. If they succeed in their intentions, the result would be 400 new jobs!
The story began one year ago when Rank was doing research about the city whose laws doesn’t allow building of casinos. Thanks to these regulations, there are no casinos in Northern Ireland and if Rank’s proposal is accepted its venture would be the first in the region.
In September, 2014, the casino operator finally made its official pitch and explained how the city would see many benefits if a new luxurious Rank casino is built there. According to the company, many people will get jobs in the restaurants, bars, cinemas and, of course, on the gaming floor.
Rank’s non-executive director Richard Needham asked city officials not to reject the pitch in order to satisfy “the religious views of some people.” He also added that the complex would boost the city revenues by approximately £3 million and create hundreds of jobs.
Unfortunately, Rank’s plans may never become a reality since Mervyn Storey, the Social Development Minister, in a statement for BBC said that Northern Ireland agreed that the casino prohibition should remain unchanged. Early in 2015 the country is set to consider new gambling legislation, but in the presented draft there is not a single word about changing the current casino building policy.
Councillors expressed mixed feelings about the project. Brian Kingston, a DUP councillor, stated his concerns regarding problem gambling saying: “People can lose tens of thousands of pounds in seconds.” On the other side, Tom Ekin, an Alliance councillor, believes that if everything is designed correctly a Rank casino could be a great asset to the city.