 An artist's impression of the casino complex planned for Ibrox |
A super-casino in Glasgow would lead to the creation of 2,500 jobs and attract more than half a million visitors each year, it has been claimed. Glasgow City Council quoted the figure at a meeting of the Casino Advisory Panel to discuss the impact of a Las Vegas style super-casino.
The city is competing against six other locations throughout the UK.
Council leader Steven Purcell said the licence would make a "major contribution" to regeneration.
He said: "A regional casino would make a major contribution to Glasgow's ongoing social and economic regeneration and it would ensure more local people could share in the city's success."
The council predicts �26m of investments, 600,000 visitors each year and up to 2,500 jobs.
If Glasgow is successful, one of four bids for the casino site would be chosen.
The four sites which would be considered are Glasgow Harbour, the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre, an area near the Ibrox home of Rangers FC and the St Enoch area in the city centre.
'Problem gamblers'
Mr Purcell added: "The proposed sites contain plans for entertainment venues, hotels and restaurants.
"A regional casino would be a key catalyst to delivering major regeneration in neighbourhoods along the River Clyde corridor."
Sam McEwan, who represented Rangers FC, told the panel that if successful the club plans to employ 50% of staff from the local area.
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He said: "This is to give people real hope, a sense of responsibility and giving them a skill."
The panel will report back to Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell and the successful bid will be announced by the end of the year.
The Salvation Army said it remains to be convinced that the regenerative impact will be as dramatic as is claimed.
Major Ivor Telfer, West Scotland divisional commander, said: "The casino's very presence may contribute to the normalisation of gambling as a safe leisure activity in the minds of young people.
"This in turn could lead to an increase in the number of young but legal gamblers which could equally lead to an increase in the number of young problem gamblers."
He added: "We would urge the Casino Advisory Panel to select the local authority which demonstrates the most serious commitment to social responsibility and is proposing a venue which is likely to incur the least harm to the community."
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We'd urge the panel to select the local authority which is proposing a venue which is likely to incur the least harm to the community
