Vital licences secured for £12m Dudley casino scheme

Plans will see Castle Casino, on Castle Hill, moved to Castlegate Park and relaunched as Casino 36.

Peter Adkins, director of regulatory services at Emms Gilmore Liberson (EGL), the law firm for the company behind the scheme, has confirmed the proposed casino and bingo hall has obtained alcohol and gambling licences from Dudley Council.

The casino, which will be on a separate floor to the bingo hall at the premises, has also obtained a 24-hour gambling licence.

The company, which also runs Wolverhampton’s Casino 36, is investing more than £12 million to deliver a second site in Dudley.

It is expected to create up to 100 jobs.

Peter Adkins worked with the Casino 36 company for four years advising on the licensing requirements for the Wolverhampton casino, and has been retained to work on the second scheme in the Black Country town.

He said: “This is great news, and is another requirement which has been met bringing it a step closer to fruition.

“This will be a great move for the town, seeing how well-loved and used Casino 36 is in Wolverhampton.”

The new development will be spread over two storeys. The ground floor will house a 450-seat main stage bingo hall. The first floor will house the casino, which will offer the traditional casino favourites such as roulette, blackjack as well as the latest innovations in casino technology.

Adrian Ballard, Casino 36 director, said: “This is great news. The location provides a perfect platform for a successful casino and bingo hall to be built upon, which will prove to be a massive asset to the town.

“To have these licenses granted and in place is another box ticked. It means we are even closer to the ambition becoming a reality."

Earlier this summer Dudley planning officers told the firm it would need a new pedestrian crossing at Castlegate park to make the site more accessible.

Casino 36 opened its £7.6 million Wolverhampton venue in November last year, in Lower Temple Street.