The winner of the Milton Keynes large casino bid, Aspers, is to make a “substantial” annual donation of at least £500,000 to the town council for the duration of the casino’s operation.
Milton Keynes Council announced on Tuesday that Aspers had been granted a Provisional Statement, enabling it to apply for the large casino licence available under the 2005 Gambling Act.
The operator, which is a joint venture between the Aspinall family and Crown of Australia, is to develop a £10m gaming facility within the town’s existing Xscape complex.
“The winning bid was judged to provide the best all round package to Milton Keynes,” the council said. “It will provide not only a new completely different – yet responsibly managed - kind of leisure facility for Milton Keynes, but numerous associated facilities and benefits for the local community, as well as creating scores of jobs.”
Part of this will be the annual donation to the council that is intended to support local communities with new initiatives. The council said it will become a stakeholder in the financial success of the venture.
“Aspers have indicated that they are committed to being a key player in the Milton Keynes community and already have plans in place to fulfil this promise,” it said.
Damien Aspinall, chairman of Aspers, said the company was “delighted” that the council had recognisd that its bid “delivers the best operator in the best location within the best development.”
