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Paul Marinko meets Damian Aspinall, the man behind Cardiff's ambition to host the UK's first ‘super' casino. The competition will be tough... Blackpool Council is desperate to get the potential regeneration. Greenwich LBC will be left with the migraine that is the Dome if it misses out. But Cardiff City Council has astutely acquired a secret weapon in its battle to win the right to build Britain's only regional casino. Damian Aspinall has gambling running through his veins, and if he wins the race to set up what has been dubbed Britain's first ‘super' casino in Cardiff, he will be matching an achievement of his late father, entrepreneur John Aspinall. Aspinall Snr opened The Claremont Club in London's Mayfair in 1962, when he won the first gaming licence under Britain's new gambling laws. In its first few weeks, it became a celebrity draw, attracting the likes of Princess Margaret, boxer Joe Frazier, and actors Roger Moore, Tony Curtis and Peter Sellers. Now his son is vying to win the first licence under the latest laws, but the new establishment promises to be a very different prospect. Damian has joined forces with another big roller's offspring, James Packer – son of the late Australian gambling tycoon Kerry Packer. Together they are hoping to convince the Government their establishment will provide entertainment for everyone, and not be the preserve of the rich and famous. ‘I had a vision that gaming in the UK could be about entertainment rather than just gaming,' says Mr Aspinall. The pair have already opened a casino in Newcastle – their company is called Aspers – which offers mini spa treatments, an iPod lounge, and self-invoicing so customers have some discretion over how much they pay, depending on the service they receive. But it is one thing to satisfy customers and quite another to please the locals and government. This can only come from a promise to regenerate the area, provide employment and give something back. Critics of the plans for a casino in Cardiff argue promises of 5,000 new jobs are no more than guesses, and they are likely to bypass locals any way. But Mr Aspinall is able to point to good work his company has done with the Newcastle project, which opened last year. As well as sponsoring a newsletter for the city's Chinese community, Aspers has also set up Working Links, an initiative with local organisations, including the council, to create a training academy for local people keen to work at the casino. So far, 60 people have passed through it. ‘There is huge evidence that points to the regeneration which will follow on from such a development,' says Mr Aspinall. He argues that competing bids come from areas which have already gained from regeneration. Cardiff, he says, has a problem getting people to stay the night, and his casino complex will change that. And he is critical of the Government's decision to only award one super casino licence. Seven ‘large' casinos and a further eight ‘small' venues, offering jackpots of up to £4,000, are also up for grabs. Mr Aspinall highlights the time it will take to select a licence winner, the actual planning and building work, and the time required for studies to assess the casino, once it is up and running. All of which could take years. But don't plans to create such huge casinos risk encouraging problem gambling? Mr Aspinall insists his ventures – which require people to make a concerted effort to visit them – are not the problem. The threat, he says, comes from the likes of Internet gambling, where people can effortlessly get caught up in addiction without leaving their homes. Cardiff has decided to make its casino plan part of proposals to set up an International Sports Village. The £1bn project is banking on a successful casino bid unlocking major investment to ensure the speedy development of sports facilities in good time for the 2012 Olympics. The short list has been drawn up, the public examinations have been completed and there is no more Mr Aspinall and Cardiff can now do other than keep their fingers crossed, together with all fellow hopefuls and wait for the Government's Casino Advisory Panel to make a decision in December.

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WHITEHALL

Damian's taking bets on a Welsh casino

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