What could be the region’s biggest ever casino remains an undimmed ambition of Middlesbrough Mayor Ray Mallon. Stuart Arnold reports

LIKE an ever-spinning roulette wheel, it has taken a long time to determine the outcome of Middlesbrough’s plans for a new casino. Back in 2005, its Mayor Ray Mallon outlined plans for a “super” casino with unlimited jackpots Las Vegas-style to be built in the town, aligned to a leisure complex, which could create thousands of jobs.

Newcastle and Sunderland also entered the running for one of the new casino licences being awarded by the Government.

Seven years later, only Middlesbrough – having been awarded a “large” casino licence in 2007 – remains in play, having also overcome legal wrangles which saw the project put on ice.

So when Middlesbrough Council recently announced it had awarded Stockton company Jomast Developments the go-ahead for a £25m casino and leisure project, the question might be asked – why now and why has it taken so long?

“Everyone was very enthusiastic about casino projects, but then you had the economic downturn and developers and casino operators became very nervous and the financial stack-up just wasn’t there,” says Mr Mallon.

“We still went out for a competition and the only one that was keen to do something was [developer] Jomast.

“They are talking to different casino operators and are confident they can make this happen and we are confident as well.”

While the planned casino is not as big as was originally planned, it would still dwarf other existing casinos in the region on the basis of the licence that was awarded.

Ever ambitious, Mr Mallon claims the new casino, complete with bars, restaurants and hotels could make the town a “destination” for people to visit from further afield.

“We want to serve the people who live in Middlesbrough, but also attract the 700,000 people who live within the Teesside area and the six-and-a-half million people who live about one hour 30 minutes from Middlesbrough,” he says.

“Casinos with other things wrapped around the gambling space attract people from far and wide.”

So far so good. However, while Mr Mallon is enthusiastic, others are less so.

Last week, the Bishop of Whitby, the Right Reverend Martin Warner, expressed concern about the planned casino, asking: “Who it does damage – and this is likely at a time when people are without jobs because money is scarce – is to tempt people into destructive habits which will bring further misery?”

Meanwhile, consultants Hall Aitken, who have analysed the impact of casinos, previously claimed they were a significant impact in homelessness and linked to more debt, drugs and domestic violence.

Mr Mallon says there has been a “grown-up debate” with many people in the town who have opposed the casino, and some of them now support the project.

“There has been a debate saying this will feed gambling addictions – I don’t wear that,” he says. “I have seen the rules and regulations and the monitoring that goes on in relation to casinos. I wish all organisations were run as professionally as casinos.”

MR Mallon is bullish when pressed for evidence to back up his claim that the casino won’t fuel more addictions.

“I have got loads of evidence, I can get you it if you want,” he says.

“The people who comment on these casino operations have never been in them.

“When they go to them and see what they are like, they see that the vast majority of people in the casino are not gambling, they are in the restaurant or bar. I’ll go and won’t gamble, I will have a meal there. It is a social, nightclubtype atmosphere.”

Mr Mallon says his intention is to set up an “independent accountability mechanism” to keep the casino and its operator in check.

“We should have the confidence to police this properly,” he says.

“I have said to officers within the council, if I don’t think this is in the interests of Middlesbrough it just won’t happen.

“At the end of the day it is about progress and what people want. Some people in this town just don’t want any change at all.”

TIMELINE

October 27, 2005 – Middlesbrough Mayor Ray Mallon and Joe Docherty, chief executive of Tees Valley Regeneration, launch a campaign to secure a “super casino”

February 22, 2006 – Casino operator Aspers is chosen to develop the bid for an £180m casino

April 4, 2006 – Middlesbrough joined by Newcastle and Sunderland in the race to secure the super-casino licence

May 2006 – Newcastle makes the shortlist for a super casino, while Middlesbrough is shortlisted for a smaller “large” casino containing 150 gaming machines with jackpots of up to £4,000

January 30, 2007 – Middlesbrough is selected by the Government’s Casino Advisory Panel as one of eight areas across the UK to gain permission for a large casino. Supporters say it will bring £10m worth of investment, along with 300 jobs

February 2007 – A spokesman for the Roman Catholic diocese in Middlesbrough says it is “extremely cautious” about the casino bid

March 28, 2007 – The House of Lords rejects the Government’s casino plans as MPs attempt to block an order allowing local authorities to issue the new casino licences

June 11, 2007 - The High Court rejects a legal challenge by the British Casino Association to stop the casinos from going ahead

July 16, 2007 – The Government says it will legislate afresh for the new casinos after pulling the plug on the award of a single super casino licence to Manchester

February 26, 2008 – The Government lifts an 11-month block on the Middlesbrough casino scheme, allowing it to go ahead

June 12, 2012 – Middlesbrough Council awards Jomast Developments the go-ahead for a £25m scheme in the town centre, the first phase of which could start early next year.