Super-casinos

Has Manchester struck it lucky?

"MANCHESTER HITS the jackpot." This was how the Manchester Evening News greeted the announcement that the city had won the bid for Britain's first 'super casino'.

Christian Bunke, Manchester Socialist Party

This casino, predicted to be the size of a football pitch, with 1,250 slot machines and apparently providing thousands of new jobs will be built in 'Sportcity', near the City of Manchester stadium in Beswick.

Beswick is in dire need of regeneration. It is one of Manchester's most poverty-stricken areas, mainly due to deindustrialisation. Many people will welcome any opportunity for new jobs. However, will ordinary people benefit in other ways from the casino?

One local resident commented about recent experiences with 'regeneration' exercises on the Manchester Evening News website: "I'm not too sure how it will benefit the people of east Manchester apart from the jobs aspect. I'm already losing my home to make way for the building of canal-side apartments and I won't be able to afford a replacement home in this area.

"The regeneration of east Manchester is supposed to be about helping the people who live here, but at times it feels we're being pushed out to make way for people with lots of money moving in."

Only a day after the announcement, property prices in the area sky rocketed. It will certainly not ease any fears held by the local population. The Observer revealed that one member of the judging panel who awarded the casino to Manchester is a Manchester City season ticket holder with connections to the council.

The sharks are clearly already licking their lips in anticipation of massive profits to be made. The casino will be part of a £260 million "leisure and entertainment village", including sports facilities, restaurants, a hotel and a nightclub. But will these be accessible to local working-class people?

There is a dire need for youth facilities, good and affordable housing, libraries, and other public services. But all people see is luxury developments and further cuts, like the recently announced slaughter of Manchester's local health services.

GamCare, a charity for people harmed by gambling dependency, had a 41% increase in the number of people using its counselling services between 2004 and 2005. The planned 1,250 slot machines are said by opposition campaigners to be especially addictive.

A YouGov poll showed 56% of people believe new casinos are a bad idea as they would increase 'problem gambling' and worsen social problems such as debt and family breakdown. The only people likely to gain any long term benefits will be the fat cat bosses of the big businesses now competing to run the casino.