The UK’s biggest casino opened its doors for the first time this weekend to hordes of gamblers keen to get straight to the action and see what the fuss is all about. Aspers Casino was constructed inside Westfield’s all new shopping center and is considered to be the biggest in the whole of Europe. With a 150 seat poker room, over 150 slot machines, and 40 roulette tables there is truly something for everyone in this 65,000 square ft complex.
The brand spanking new Aspers Casino opened after several years of construction to a thousand-strong hoard of players, paying out over 9000 pounds in winnings during the first hour alone. Aspers will never close, operating 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. A casino that never sleeps is something that many thought would never happen in the UK, and before the Gambling Act of 2005 was passed it certainly wouldn’t. A mere five years ago the highest number of slot machines any one establishment could have was a very paltry 20, now that limit has been smashed paving the way for these so-called super casinos to open in the big cities. Aspers Casino is the first of its kind, and certainly won’t be the last.
Rewind four years, and Newham had just been awarded the required licenses to build a super casino with the help of UK businessman Damian Aspinall and Australian gambling group Crown. The new Aspers Casino makes absolutely no secret it is targeting an entirely new market, and is concentrating on a “high volume, low spend” business model. Early predictions specify an average stake of £20, far below the national average.
With its 2p casino slots and value dining, the casino certainly appears to be going after a budget-oriented consumer, but with its high-class architecture and superb facilities there is sure to be something for everyone. Aspers have created almost 500 new jobs as a direct result of this development, and being located right next to the Olympic park is sure to bring a healthy amount of money into the cash-strapped economy.
“When people talk about regeneration, what Westfield, including ourselves, has brought to Stratford is immense. This is a £1.8 billion development.” A Noble spokesman declared as the casino was opened.