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£20m casino 'could bring 200 jobs'
A NEW £20 million casino development could bring a minimum of 200 jobs to Scarborough and even a multiplex cinema, it was revealed last night.
Scarborough Council's chief executive Jim Dillon told assembled businessmen and women at the town's Royal Hotel that the casino would be the "size of a football ground".
Mr Dillon was speaking at the local authority's "Betting on Scarborough" presentation evening, organised in connection with the town's bid for an additional casino licence.
Scarborough is one of 31 places nationally shortlisted by the Govern-ment for 16 licences up for grabs.
The licences would be for large to small casinos.
A decision is expected in December.
Mr Dillon said the application was part of Scarborough's vision to become a "world class place to live, work and visit" and a 365-day-a-year visitor attraction "fit for the 21st century".
"Nowhere in the UK can match us in terms of choice," he said. "It's a lifestyle choice unrivalled."
And he insisted that the massive development would not merely be a casino – it was essential that any interested developer promised other leisure facilities whether it be eating, a multiplex cinema or even a successor to the town's Futurist Theatre.
Other speakers at the evening were the town's MP Robert Goodwill; Jan Anderson, executive director, environment, Yorkshire Forward; and John Marsden, chief executive, North Yorkshire County Council.
Mr Goodwill said gambling now had a higher profile as a leisure activity and he would rather see people enjoy an evening at a quality establishment rather than "sitting at home gambling on their computer or going into a smoky bookies".
But he stressed that, should Scarbor-ough be granted a licence, it was essential any future casino co-existed alongside the town's present one.
PICTURED ... at the seminar at the Royal Hotel are speakers, from left, Jan Anderson, John Marsden, Jim Dillon and Robert Goodwill 064074a
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Weather for Scarborough
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
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Temperature: 11 C to 18 C
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Wind direction: East
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