Casino resort planned for United Kingdom

Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2004 | 10:33 a.m.

Ameristar Casinos Inc. today announced plans to build a casino resort for about $445 million as part of a redevelopment project in Southampton, England.

The Las Vegas company becomes the latest U.S. casino operator to enter the fray in the United Kingdom, which is expected to open its market to additional casinos and Las Vegas-style slot machines by 2006. The resort is contingent upon the adoption of such regulations. The British government has recently discussed allowing only 8 major resorts in addition to smaller local casinos.

The project will feature dining and entertainment venues, a 200-room luxury hotel, indoor swimming pool and spa, conference space and other amenities and is located in a long vacant area of the city's center. Company partner Bravo Network Ltd. will build an 8,000-seat indoor arena with an Olympic size ice rink and an additional rink for community ice skating.

The Southampton City Council has selected Bravo as the arena developer.

Ameristar, which doesn't own any casinos in Las Vegas, is expected to contribute about 195 million pounds ($360 million) toward the total cost of the project, estimated at 240 million pounds.

The project will stimulate the local economy and create about 1,200 jobs, Ameristar said.

The casino would be about 65,000 square feet and include 80 table games and 1,250 slot machines with the potential for future expansion. The hotel would overlook the water of Southampton's West Quay.