Talks continue on Caesars London casino

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Monday, Sept. 23, 2002 | 9:14 a.m.

LONDON -- Park Place Entertainment Corp., the largest U.S. casino owner, is continuing talks about opening a casino at the Millennium Dome in south London, the Observer reported Sunday.

The bid by the Las Vegas-based owner of major casino brands -- including Caesars, Flamingo, Bally's, Paris, Hilton and Grand -- will depend on government plans to liberalize gambling laws, the paper said. Legislation is expected in the 2003 Queen's Speech, according to the Observer.

Peter George, head of Park Place's international division, arrived in London last month to meet with executives from the Anschutz Entertainment Group, the paper said. Along with Quintain Estates and Development Plc, and Lend Lease Corp., Anschutz owns a 999-year lease on the Dome and surrounding land, the paper said.

The Dome, built to commemorate the millennium, failed to draw enough visitors after its opening in January 2000 and has cost at least 987 million pounds ($1.5 billion).

Park Place's interest in opening a Caesars casino at the Millennium Dome was earlier reported by the Times of London in April.

The Times has called Park Place's concept for London "every bit as bizarre as the original (Caesars Palace), complete with chariot rides, Cleopatra's barge and an empire of one-armed bandits."