Casino competition won by Global Gaming Ventures
LEEDS city centre’s casino project has taken a step forward as Global Gaming Ventures (GGV) has been granted a provisional statement for a large casino licence.
This decision, by Leeds City Council’s licensing committee, will enable GGV to apply for a large casino premises licence in due course.
The Victoria Gate casino scheme will involve the creation of a 50,000 sq ft entertainment led casino as part of property developer Hammerson’s development of the first phase of Victoria Gate.
Chief executive of GGV, Andrew Herd, said: “We are thrilled to win the competition and to be coming to Leeds. In conjunction with our partners at Hammerson and our architects at Leeds-based Fuse Studios, we are determined to create an exciting and stylish new entertainment facility for the city and to deliver on our promises to Leeds City Council.”
Councillor Graham Hyde, chair of Leeds City Council licensing committee, said: “Following a detailed consideration of each applicants’ proposal, the licensing committee decided to award the licence to Global Gaming Ventures as it was determined that their proposal would bring greatest benefit to the city.”
The award is subject to the terms of an agreement that will guarantee the delivery of a number of benefits.
Joe Swindells from Hammerson said: “We’ve been working closely with GGV to support its bid for the casino licence application and we are very pleased it has been selected, especially as there were a number of other strong locations in the running.
“We will now work with GGV to ensure this new leisure element to Victoria Gate complements the proposed plans and provides a successful addition to the development.”
Leeds is one of only 8 local authorities in the country with powers to grant a large casino licence. The new casino will have a minimum area of 1,000 sq m and up to 150 slot machines with a maximum jackpot of £4,000.
