Super casino edges closer, bringing 113 jobs

Casino 36, which owns Rubicon Casino on Temple Street in Wolverhampton city centre, has purchased the former Dorchester club that sits next door and requested permission from the city council to use it as a major extension for the planned gambling paradise.

Last year, Adrian Ballard, who is a director with Casino 36, revealed the plans will create up to 113 jobs for the region.

Councillor Peter Bilson, Wolverhampton's economy boss, said: "This has been expected for some time and we are please to see the Rubicon move forward with this proposal.

"Clearly it is intended to improve the unused nightclub premises and expand a business that will offer jobs to people, which is good news.

"There will always be concerns about bringing in or extending a gambling institution in the city so we will be looking to seek assurances from the owners that they will act responsibly.

"I do think this extension will boost the cultural offer of this part of the city and complement the work that has already started to regenerate the rest of Wolverhampton."

Last year, the city council granted the company a special 'small casino' licence allowing it to look at expanding its casino in Wolverhampton, beating off competition from Wolverhampton Racecourse, which wanted to build a 'racino' at the site on Dunstall Park before instead choosing to invest in an a new all-weather racetrack.

Games including roulette, blackjack and three card poker, as well as up to 80 slot machines and 100 stand-alone electronic terminals would be on offer at the super casino.

A new poker area big enough to host televised tournaments is also planned along with restaurants, a sports bar, pool, snooker and darts areas.

Speaking ahead of being granted the licensc last year, Mr Ballard said the casino would have 'something for everyone', with non-gamblers able to go for a drink in the sports bar that would be built inside.

The building's roof will also be able to transform into an open-air sky terrace.

Bosses at the casino company, which also run branches in Dudley and Stockport, expressed a desire to have the colour red dominate the appearance of the building once it is complete on the grounds that it is considered a 'lucky' colour in gambling circles.

The design statement that accompanies the planning application reads: "The design will provide a cohesive and contemporary statement to an urban corner which has long suffered from neglect in an area of the city that requires an uplift."

Despite not being obliged to do so, Casino 36 made a £36,000 donation to Wolverhampton City Council to use on counselling programmes and community initiatives after being granted the licence.

The council used £9,000 to support 90 counselling programmes for people with gambling problems and their families. The remaining £27,000 was used for grants of up to £3,000 for community initiatives.