Scotland – A supercasino in Glasgow would create 2500 jobs and attract more than half a million extra visitors each year, it was claimed last Tuesday. Glasgow City Council quoted the figures in the third of a series of meetings on the merits of the seven venues competing to host the UK’s sole supercasino.

The public hearing, held in Glasgow last Tuesday, follows meetings in London and Cardiff last week. They have been organised by the Casino Advisory Panel – the body charged by the government with advising on the location of the casino – to discuss the impact a supercasino would have in the areas. If Glasgow is successful, the casino would be built on one of four possible sites in the city: Glasgow Harbour, the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre, next to Ibrox stadium or behind the St Enoch Centre shopping mall. However, Purcell said any development would be much more than simply a gambling establishment.