Yorkshire pragmatism shows Vegas the way

Author: Simon Dexter

While Melbourne-based organisation Crown, Australia’s biggest casino operator, was announcing they were scrapping plans to build a casino in Las Vegas, matters in Yorkshire appeared considerably more positive.

In north Yorkshire this week, officials at Scarborough Borough Council started the process of inviting developers and operators to submit proposals for the development of a modestly-sized casino that would have a gaming area for poker, roulette and other card games, together with a maximum of 80 slot machines.

Scarborough Borough Council leader Tim Fox welcomed the project, saying, “We can now move forward to the next stage of embracing this significant regeneration opportunity for Scarborough.” Operators and developers will be invited to submit development proposals for what is Britain’s oldest seaside resort – tourists have been visiting Scarborough for more than 360 years.

Meanwhile, in the southern part of the county, Huddersfield’s historic Princess Cinema is to be re-developed as a £5m casino more than quarter of a century since the last movie was screened. The casino, which is scheduled to open by the end of July, will be spread over three floors with a games room, poker floor, restaurant gallery, VIP area and function rooms. More than 100 jobs will be created as a result of the project.

According to the casino’s managing director, Jonathan Truelove, his operation intends taking it easy on poker players and their guests: “We don’t want to take a load of money off someone and never have them visit again,” he says. “We would rather have someone spend £20 or £30 and come back with their friends. It’s not about hard gaming and high rollers.”

Perhaps those Aussie boys could learn something from Mr Truelove’s display of Yorkshire pragmatism.