To be or not to be? Drama over Coventry casino hopes
Tuesday 22nd May 2007
Although July 6th will see the opening of a new casino in Coventry, owner Chris Brammer will have to wait until the end of next week to find out whether the new venue could fulfil his dreams of being a larger operator.
Based at Coventry City FC's Ricoh Arena, the Isle of Capri already boasts 130,000 square feet of gaming space and a 35-metre waterfall at the club's entrance.
Yet Mr Brammer will have to wait to see whether a judge's decision will allow him to expand on his empire, as his currently agreed licence only allows for the operation of 20 slot machines.
Mr Justice Langstaff will rule on whether a competitor in Solihull, just ten miles away, should be awarded an upgraded licence allowing the business to enjoy greater freedoms while Mr Brammer's still does not, the Financial Times reports.
Isle of Capri believes that the granting of the licence would take a huge toll on its profits as the Solihull mecca would be permitted to install as many as 150 slots.
Although Mr Brammer dreams of a 400-bed hotel and other developments to his casino, he says the plans have had to be shelved because of parliament's unpredictable record on gambling freedoms.
"This whole business has got to be sorted out," Mr Brammer says. "You can't have two greengrocers in the same town and one can sell carrots and the other cannot."
Although July 6th will see the opening of a new casino in Coventry, owner Chris Brammer will have to wait until the end of next week to find out whether the new venue could fulfil his dreams of being a larger operator.