The study of the casino project in Belfast has been postponed until 2015

The Minister for Social Development in Northern Ireland, Nelson McCausland, has just announced that the land-based casinos will remain banned until the legislation is going to be debated in the National Assembly next year.
This decision puts a halt on the ambitious project of the Rank Group that wanted to build a gambling and entertainment facility for €23 million in the city of Belfast.

A multi-activity centre

The Rank Group currently operates 55 casinos that are spread throughout the territory of the United Kingdom.
They presented their enormous project to the city of Belfast last week.
This project contained the construction of a complex involving a casino, a bingo hall, a theatre, a cinema, a bowling alley, and multiple bars and restaurants.
Such an establishment would be expected to create around 200 jobs.
The project is regarded as a multi-entertainment centre, providing all the activities for a fun evening, to dine out, drink and be entertained in comfort and security.

A significant boost to the local economy

The project was reviewed by a development committee before Nelson McCausland announced that the law would not change.
The Minister said that the current ban on land-based casinos, which was set up in 1985, will not be lifted until the new legislation is presented to the Assembly in 2015.
Under these circumstances, the Rank Group decided to represent their project when the law is finally effective.
The company also pointed out that their entertainment complex would provide a significant boost to the local economy.
In fact, there are currently no casinos in Northern Ireland.
Such an entertainment complex would create many jobs, which would greatly benefit the city of Belfast.
Moreover, the development committee that reviewed the project seemed quite interested in it too.
The members wanted more information before they made a firm and final decision.
The president Alderman Tom Ekin also said that for now, they were neither for nor against the project, they just wanted more information.
The entertainment complex of the Rank Group could therefore be authorised in 2015, that is if the bill is finally passed by the National Assembly.