The success of the first large casino bodes well for the future
The UK’s Gambling Commission recently issued a report on the country’s gambling statistics over the past four years. As far as the casino industry is concerned, the report stated that, as of March 31, 2012, there were 146 casinos in the UK. Three operators – Genting UK, Rank Group and Gala Coral – own the majority of those casinos. Genting has 44 venues, Rank 36 and Gala 27.
Under the Gambling Act 2005, 16 local council areas were designated as potential locations for new casinos. It went like this: large casinos can be permitted in Great Yarmouth, Kingston-upon-Hull, Leeds, Middlesbrough, Milton Keynes, Newham, Solihull and Southampton, while small casinos can be licensed in Bath and North East Somerset, Dumfries and Galloway, East Lindsey, Luton, Scarborough, Swansea, Torbay and Wolverhampton. As of March 31, 2012, only one large casino had opened under the Act – in the London borough of Newham close to the site of the 2012 Olympic Games.
At that time there were 186 1968 Act casino premises licences available, comprising the 146 that were operating, 16 casinos licensed but subsequently closed and 27 licensed but not yet operating. Of these, three were replacement licences and three casinos that specialise in card room activities are included in the total.
As of March 31, six 2005 Act casino operating licences were held by operators and nine of the 16 local authorities permitted to issue 2005 Act casino premises licences had begun their competition processes (seven large and two small). Employee numbers have been fairly static over the past four years with average employee numbers increased by 784 from 13,389 to 14,173. Casino attendance has remained fairly static as well, across all the regions. London-based casinos (not including the high-end casinos) have seen the biggest growth in customer numbers, increasing by 12 per cent from 3.55 million to 3.96 million. A total of 18.24 casino visits took place in the 12 months to March 31, 2012, in the UK.
The average industry table numbers have also remained fairly static between 2010/11 and 2011/12 with the exception of the large decrease in casino stud poker, which was down 44 per cent. Overall, table numbers were up by three per cent for this period.
This article can be read in full in the January issue of InterGaming.
