Plans to develop Britain’s biggest casino on the edge of the Olympic Park in East London in time for next year’s Games could be derailed by a legal challenge.
Newham Council, one of 16 local authorities given powers to award a licence under the 2005 Gambling Act, announced yesterday that it had selected Aspers, a joint venture between the Aspinall family and Crown Limited, of Australia, to develop a 65,000 sq ft venue at the Westfield shopping centre.
Aspers defeated two rivals in the final round of bidding — Apollo Resorts, in tandem with Genting Malaysia, and Great Eastern Quays, a consortium led by Partouche, of France. The council said that it had based its decision on criteria including financial ability to deliver, job creation, regeneration, community benefit, sustainability and safeguards against problem gambling.
But The Times understands that the disappointed bidders are furious at the decision and are considering seeking an injunction against it. They are believed to be claiming that the Aspers plan, projected to be completed towards the end of this year, has only limited regeneration opportunities compared with their own.
Analysts have also expressed scepticism at the ability of Aspers to push through the development, suggesting that its Australian partner is focusing on Macau and Australia rather than Britain.
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The proposed Aspers casino, to be located in the shopping centre next to the Olympic site, will have 38 gaming tables, 80 electronic games terminals, 150 slot machines and a 150-seat poker room, as well as an 80-seat restaurant and two bars.
The aim is to build a leisure entertainment venue including facilities for music and comedy, creating 440 jobs. The casino would be the biggest in Britain, overtaking the casino at The Empire, Leicester Square.
Aspers was the nickname of the late John Aspinall, the gambler and zoo owner, who founded Aspinalls Club in Mayfair after being granted Britain’s first gaming licence. His son, Damian, is chairman of Aspers.
The potential legal challenge comes amid continuing controversy over the decision by the Olympic Park Legacy Company to support plans by West Ham United Football Club to move to the Olympic Stadium in 2013.
A rival Premier League club, Tottenham Hotspur, has threatened to challenge the decision, while the neighbouring Leyton Orient, of the lower Football League One, claims that turning the venue over to a top-flight club could put it out of business.