Coventry could be back in the game; SUPER CASINO: City could benefit as rival drops out.

Byline: By Barbara Goulden

AN UNEXPECTED roll of the dice has again raised the stakes on Coventry becoming the home of Britain's first super casino.

Despite failing to make a national shortlist of eight, luck could be favouring Coventry once again after the London Borough of Brent - which did make the final cut - announced it was throwing in its hand.

Brent Council's Executive said it was not going to proceed after receiving the results of a public consultation exercise which showed that 67 per cent of those questioned were opposed, or strongly opposed to a super casino.

While an economic impact assessment talked of 2,000 new jobs, a social study noted there would be a "disproportionate" increase in problem gamblers among those with low incomes, poor qualifications and among some ethnic groups.

In Coventry, John McGuigan, director of city development, said: "The decision by Brent Council to withdraw from the shortlist for the UK's first regional casino pilot further strengthens our resolve to fight for Coventry to take its rightful place on the list.

"The fact that Brent was included when its local communities had clearly not been properly consulted makes the omission of Coventry (by the Casino Advisory Panel) all the more perplexing."

By contrast, the pro-posed regional casino, which is a key element of the successful Ricoh Arena, enjoys across-the-board support in the city, including from residents, community groups, businesses, our local MP sand the city council.

"Mr McGuigan, who was involved in the "Coventry Now" team of public supporters - which includes the Alan Edward Higgs charity as well as the American Isle of Capri casino owners - says the group will continue to press the city's case.

Only last week an additional submission about choosing Coventry was made to the Casino Advisory Panel.

CAPTION(S):

RESOLVE... John McGuigan and anartist's impression of the proposed Isleof Capri casino.