Appeal hearing told why city needs Las Vegas-style casino

12.10.2009, THE city of Leeds needs a casino where the focus is on Las Vegas-style cabaret and live entertainment and not just gambling, a big player in the entertainment industry argued yesterday.

By Andrew Robinson

The big-name owners of former Leeds nightclub Majestyk in City Square, which was also formerly a cinema and a bingo hall but is now disused, want to turn it into the type of entertainment and gambling venue found in VegasAppeal hearing told why city needs Las Vegas-style casino

They have argued that th ADVERTISEMENTe other five casinos in Leeds provide little more than gaming machines and gambling tables, despite previous promises to put on varied entertainment.

The arguments for and against the plans to spend around £14m creating Majestic Casino – the changed spelling is a return to the 1921 cinema name – are being rehearsed before a judge sitting alongside magistrates at Leeds Crown Court.

The court is hearing an appeal against a decision by magistrates to reject an application for a gaming licence.

It is thought be the final hearing of any kind under the old Gaming Act of 1968, which has been replaced by new legislation.

Last year magistrates rejected the application for a gaming licence for the Majestic. They concluded that another Leeds casino, the Alea at Clarence Dock, had ample facilities to provide entertainment and there was not enough demand for another casino.

But bosses at Waterimage Limited, a partnership between Luminar, the largest owner of nightclubs in the world, and French hotel and casino group Lucien Barriere, claim that Majestic will be a very different kind of casino to others.

Barrister Gerald Gouriet QC, for Waterimage, told the court that Alea had promised to provide various entertainments but "our stance is they didn't."

He added: "It's a very important point and is central to the case."

Mr Gouriet said three operators were opposing Waterimage's application for a gaming licence – London Clubs International, Grosvenor Casinos, sometimes called Rank, and Gala Casinos.

He told the court that recent legislation allowed casinos to be venues for dancing, live music and entertainment but there has been a "slow take up of that".

He said Luminar had earlier decided it wanted to branch out and was "trying to give their ageing customers a different sort of late-night experience".

Mr Gouriet said other Leeds casinos may claim to have tried to incorporate entertainment at their venues and that customers did not like it.

"Our response is that they may be experienced at operating casinos but they have precious little experience in offering late-night entertainment. We know what we are doing."

The hearing continues yorkshirepost.co.uk/

Über Glücksspiele Las Vegas - Gambling in Las Vegas:

Las Vegas liegt im Westen der USA im Bundesstaat Nevada und ist das Glücksspiel-Paradies von Amerika.

Las Vegas hat rund 100 Spielcasinos. Im Bundesstaat Nevada sind sogar über 300 Spielcasinos registriert. Die grössten Casinos sind das Bellagio, Caesars Palace, Venetian / Palazzo, Wynn / Encore, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay.

Weitere bekannte Casinos sind das Mirage, frühere Heimat von Siegfried und Roy, das Luxor in Form einer Pyramide oder das Casino Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino, in welchem jährlich die Pokerweltmeisterschaft (World Series of Poker WSOP) durchgeführt wird.

Die bekanntesten zwei Strassen sind der Las Vegas Boulevard, welcher auch als Las Vegas Strip bezeichnet wird. Daneben ist die Fremont Street eine gut besuchte Casino-Meile, wo beispielsweise das legendäre Casino Binion's (vormals Binion's Horseshoe) seine Spiele anbietet.

Las Vegas erstreckt sich über eine Fläche von 340 km2 und hat rund 650'000 Einwohner.

--- Ende Artikel / Pressemitteilung Appeal hearing told why city needs Las Vegas-style casino ---


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