Casino operator gambles on success in the Black Country
A casino operator is planning to expand its presence in the Black Country with the development of a new facility in Dudley.
Casino 36 already owns the casino on Castle Hill but has now submitted plans to open a second venue at the nearby Castlegate development in a move that could lead to 74 new jobs.
The firm, which also has a casino in Stockport, completed a refurbishment to its venue in Wolverhampton last year, a move that created around 100 jobs for the city.
The firm is now looking to develop a site on Castlegate Drive, opposite The Village Hotel and adjacent to a KFC restaurant and Costa Coffee.
It said its intention was to create an active and vibrant venue, adding to the leisure facilities of the immediate area.
The firm said that given the size of its existing casino on Castle Hill, it was anxious to move to larger premises as soon as possible which would allow it to expand and take advantage of the greater footfall on the Castlegate site, as well as its better amenities.
The wider Castlegate site includes a multi-screen cinema, ten-pin bowling alley, pubs and a host of chain restaurants.
A design statement submitted to Dudley Borough Council in support of the application, states: “The new casino will enhance this vibrancy with economic benefits and employment opportunities for Dudley.”
It said the development offered a positive use of a brownfield site, a sustainable amount of new jobs, a complementary relationship to existing businesses and the opportunity to further enhance Castlegate as a visitor hub.
The principal use of the building will be as a casino and bingo hall. Casino 36 has already liaised with the licensing authority in Dudley and the Gambling Commission has approved the internal layout of the building.
A meeting with Dudley Council prior to the application’s submission was said to be positive.
The building would be configured over two floors to separate the bingo usage from the casino, which will feature a variety of gaming machines.
The building would be similar in appearance to its sister facility in Wolverhampton – the red and black theme following the principal colours of gambling.
