New Super Casino Opens in Leeds
The United Kingdom��s third largest casino opened its doors to the public Jan. 26 with a lavish ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Victoria Gate Casino, part of the ��165 million Victoria gate retail development project in Leeds, is spread over 50,000 square feet and offers 24 gaming tables, 75 electronic gaming tables, 140 slot machines and a poker room with a capacity of 100 people.
The casino cost an estimated ��30 million to develop with its owners, Global Gaming Ventures (GGV), securing $41.75 million in financing in February 2016. GGV was granted a license for the development and operation of a ��large casino�� by the local authorities in 2013.
Part of the agreement with Leeds City Council states the casino must employ at least 205 staff on a permanent and full-time basis, with at least 90 percent of those employees being residents of Leeds. Also, GGV is to pay ��450,000 or four percent of its full-year net gaming revenue to the city on an annual basis.
The grand opening began at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 26 and was attended by 1,200 VIPs who were offered free food and drink while the venue��s manager cut the ribbon and made the first spin of the roulette wheel before the doors opened to the general public at 9:00 p.m.
In addition to the gambling facilities, Victoria Gate Casino boasts of two bars, a restaurant and three outdoor terraces.
��Curve�� is the venue��s luxurious cocktail bar where customers can choose from 29 cocktails, craft beers and a selection of cask ales from local breweries; the bar has partnered with champagne makers Moet & Chandon.
The second bar is called ��Live�� and, as the name suggests, is the casino��s sports bar. Here customers will find a TV wall created from 21 55-inch screens and sports broadcasting 24 hours a day; it is sure to be a huge hit with sports fans when there is a major sporting event taking place.
��V�� is the casino��s fine dining restaurant which offers pan-Asian cuisine and British classics.
Poker players are also catered to, or will be, Feb. 9 when the poker room opens. UK & Ireland PokerNews has scheduled a meeting with the poker room manager and will be interviewing him about his plans for cash games and tournaments now and in the coming months.
