There was a Gambling Act passed back in 2005 that allowed for up to 40 Supercasinos that was immediately reduced to eight and then down to one and if Prime Minister Gordon Brown has anything to say about soon there will be none.

Brown was a known foe of gambling expansion before he became Tony Blair's successor as Prime Minister. Before he was elected, one of his last acts as Chancellor of the Exchequer was to put a tax on gambling revenues at a fifty percent rate, a decision that caused several online casinos to reconsider their plans of locating to the United Kingdom.

There were plans in effect to open the first Las Vegas styled Supercasino in Manchester, England but Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who was elected to office this past June is not a gambling advocate has advised officials to look elsewhere.

The new casino that was to be located in Manchester was to be the first of its kind, it wasn't going to be restricted by certain laws already in effect that only allow a few table games and slots machines in each location. Plans for the Supercasino included a large number of table games, numerous bars and restraints, 1250 slots machines and conference facilities.

Blair originally backed plans for supercasinos in Manchester and Blackpool but Manchester won in the end. But now that Blair opposes the plans for the supercasino he says he is going to examine other ways to revitalize the city. At this time the Manchester city counsil members have no comment on the plans to scrap the supercasino but in the past this council backed the idea.






- 2008-02-06