Q) What is a small casino?

Q) Will there just be gambling?

Q) Why a casino?

Q) What does this mean for Torbay?

Q) How will an operator be appointed?

Q) When will this be open?

Q) How will children and other vulnerable people be protected?

Q) Where will it be?

Q) What is a small casino?

A) Small casinos will have a minimum total customer area of 750m² of this a minimum of 500m² will be gaming up to a maximum of 1499m². Torbay will be looking for proposals that develop the non gaming area well in excess of the minimum of 250m² Small casinos are permitted up to 80 Category B gaming machines, with a maximum jackpot of £4,000, there will be gaming tables and other forms of sport betting but not bingo.

Q) Will there just be gambling?

A) Absolutely not. The application was made to support efforts to regenerate Torbay's economy and tourism industry. We expect that there will be a much broader land high quality destination leisure experience. We would expect that this would include bars, restaurants, live entertainment, treatment areas & a range of gaming options. It would also be possible to include complementary hotel and retail developments but the final scheme will be the subject of a competition process.

Q) Why a casino?

A) Torbays economy is struggling and while there has been much good news about new investment in the tourism industry we can do more to attract visitors here. The submission for a casino license is part of a much bigger regeneration strategy that Torbay Development Agency is working on in support of the urgent need for economic regeneration in Torbay. Other projects like the Torbay Innovation Centre and Brixham Regeneration have looked to support different parts of our economy and we feel that a new high quality leisure development will be a great addition to the Bay.

We know that there is considerable interest in investing in Torbay through this development and we will be working to get the greatest possible benefit for Torbay.

Q) What does this mean for Torbay?

A) Being recommended for a license for a small casino has created significant private sector interest in Torbay. There's a great opportunity to get a new entertainment and leisure facility including those activities mentioned above here in Torbay. The investment will bring with it an expected 150-200 desperately needed jobs for all of the community.

Q) How will an operator be appointed?

A) Operators must pass several stringent tests to open a casino. They will need planning permission, an operating license and a premises license to be issued. The local authority is responsible for planning permission and the premises license and we are awaiting detailed Government guidance on the process.

We would though expect interested operators to be good partners in Torbay and would in particular be looking for consideration of issues like:

• The numbers of new jobs created
• The range of facilities offered in the development
• Work with local partners on jobs and training for the longer term unemployed
• How they might work with local suppliers
• Local sporting, cultural and community sponsorships
• Work with support services, faith groups and others such as the Police on measures to increase understanding of problem gambling and steps to prevent it.

Q) When will this be open?

A) The timescale that we are working to is:

• Mid 2007 call for proposals
• Late 2007 Review of proposals against regulatory criteria
• Late 2007/Early 2008 Review of proposals against regeneration criteria
• Mid 2008 Announcement of local winner
• Mid-late 2009 Opening of the new development

Q) How will children and other vulnerable people be protected?

A) Throughout the development of the protect we have taken steps to understand the risks and measures that can be put in place to minimise negative impacts of this development. We have spoken to organisations such as Gamcare, the local Citizens Advice Bureau and importantly the local police to hear their views and now that we have been recommended for a license we will continue to work with others working in this area. We would expect that operators would have strong measures in place to prevent inappropriate access to the gaming areas and that equally steps would be taken to identify problem gamers, to offer support and advice and other steps and to work with organisations that provide help to those people.

Q) Where will it be?

A) We can't say yet. Although there has been speculation about possible sites none has been identified as the final location. This is something that will be determined by the competition and planning process.

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