Bahamas-based hotel, resort and casino operator Kerzner International is poised to develop casino and hotel resorts in London, Glasgow and Manchester when the UK gambling laws are updated.
The three projects, which will cost a combined $1b (more than £534m), will be completed during 2007 as long as certain conditions – including the passage of gaming reform laws – are satisfied by 2005.
Kerzner has confirmed its interest in the regeneration of London’s Millennium Dome by signing a binding agreement with affiliates of the US Anschutz Entertainment Group, which is to develop a 20,000-seat entertainment and sports arena on the site.
If all conditions are met, Kerzner will develop and run a $350m (£187m) resort casino and hotel at the Dome that could have up to 600 bedrooms.
Kerzner has also beaten off competition from a dozen US and European gaming companies to be named as the preferred developer for similar projects at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre (SECC) in Glasgow and at East Manchester’s Sportcity complex, which was built for the last Commonwealth Games.
Both are part of regional regeneration projects supported by the respective city councils. If the plans go ahead, Kerzner will invest $300m (£160m) in a resort casino and five-star, 150-bedroom hotel on the SECC site in Glasgow, and another $350m (£187m) on a proposed 150-bedroom hotel and casino complex at Sportcity.
Kerzner, which operates nine luxury resort hotels under the One&Only brand, is currently developing a casino in Northampton.
by Angela Frewin
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