Poker To Form Part Of Southampton’s Gaming Waterfront

The Royal Pier SouthamptonPoker and casino games are big business these days and while the main focus falls on online casino sites and poker rooms, there is a lot of interest in big casino venues up and down the country. There is a growing awareness that casino rooms and poker games are not necessarily a road to ruin for people and local areas. In fact, there is an understanding that properly regulating the games and creating venues where people want to spend time can have a positive impact on the local economy.

Poker can boost the local economy

This is what council bosses in Southampton are hoping for as they look to create a casino on their waterfront which they hope will bring some that good old fashioned Las Vegas style and glamour to the area. The Royal Pier development has been at the planning stage for a considerable time but the casino building is expected to the major component of the development area and there is hope for thousands of jobs to be created in total.

Currently, councillors are agreeing the terms and conditions with which companies can bid to take ownership of the casino and the application process is hoped to begin in April. However, it is not expected that the assessment of these applications will begin until August. It is not expected that an answer as to who will run the casino will be provided quickly and it may take up to a year and a half before any decision is made.

Southampton was one of the 8 local authorities that were provided with a licence to create a super casino when the powers were granted back in 2008. The licence includes the ability to create 30 poker and blackjack tables. The casino is also licenced to host 150 slots, which will be able to provide jackpot prizes of up to £4,000.