British city plea to Muslims over casino

Paul Dale:

Muslims are being urged to drop opposition to a Birmingham super-casino in return for a promise that the project will regenerate a run-down inner city area.

City council leaders are conducting a charm offensive in an effort to swing support behind Birmingham City Football Club's planned £217 million stadium and casino development at Saltley.

Ken Hardeman, cabinet regeneration member, has recently met councillors and community leaders from the largely Muslim-populated areas of Bordesley Green, Sparkbrook and Small Heath.

Coun Hardeman (Con Brandwood) admitted there was concern among people living near to the site of the Blues' new ground, since the Islamic faith bans gambling.

But he believes a regional casino will act as a major driver for regeneration by bringing wealth, jobs and new development to an economically and socially deprived area.

Coun Hardeman said: "I think there is a persuasive case to be made to the community that the Birmingham City option would bring in a considerable number of new facilities to the area. The communities have to weigh up the benefit of major capital investment against faith issues."

Birmingham City Council meets tomorrow and is expected to support in principle a bid to the Government for a regional casino. A clear majority of the 120 councillors are likely to back the idea.

The council is seeking to promote a regional casino off the back of a "big bang" strategy.

Coun Hardeman said that by approving a regional casino, in a building of up to 20,000 sqm with 40 gaming tables, the council would be able to use new powers under the Gambling Act to refuse permission for additional casinos in Birmingham.

This would prevent a " proliferation" of smaller casinos in sensitive inner city areas, he said.

The Blues' chance of securing a casino could fall foul of Muslim sensitivities and an emerging cross-party belief that a major gambling centre would be better placed at the National Exhibition Centre in Solihull.

Councillor Ayoub Khan (Lib Dem Aston) said: "There is a high degree of concern among the Muslim population.

"My view is that we have enough problems in terms of drugs, crime, poor education and deprivation and we don't want any more.

"A casino could work at the NEC and I wouldn't object to that. But I certainly would object to a casino anywhere in the inner city area."

Muslims Urged to Drop Opposition to UK Casino Plans