Yorkshire casino contest begins

LEEDS City Council has fired the starting gun on the race to secure a licence to run one of only eight new large casinos in the country.

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.

Only eight councils across the country have been given permission to grant a licence for a larger than normal casino.

John Mulcahy, head of licensing and registration for Leeds City Council said: “The leisure economy already attracts thousands of visitors to Leeds, and a new large casino will add an extra dimension to the existing popular attractions in the city.

“The licence also has the potential to generate more jobs and investment into the area.

“We look forward to seeing proposals from potential applicants, however the council has no preferred location in mind for this facility.”

The authority is hoping to grant the licence in the financial 2012/13 financial year.