Genting Casinos UK, a division of Malaysian resort conglomerate Genting Group, has started the construction of US$247.5m Resorts World Birmingham casino, which will be the UK’s largest.
This is one of eight large casinos which have been approved by the British government for cities around the country and will be the first of the lucrative Genting casino franchise to open in Europe.
The seven-storey, 538,000sq.ft venue is due to open in early 2015 next to the city’s LG Arena with 170 four-star hotel rooms, 45 retail outlets, an 11-screen cinema, bars and restaurants and convention and meeting facilities.
The complex will create 1,750 construction jobs and another 1,100 full-time jobs when it opens. It also is expected to provide a significant boost to the city’s National Exhibition Centre, which draws 70 per cent of its visitors from outside the Birmingham area and 10 per cent from outside the country. Economic spinoffs are estimated by PricewaterhouseCoopers at £58m during construction and £32.8m a year once operations commence.
Genting operates the brand in Singapore, Manila and New York City. In Britain the company operates more than 40 casinos and sponsors Birmingham’s Aston Villa Football Club in England’s Premier League.
