Casino Giant Attempts to Woo Anti-Gambling Bishop with Financial Benefits
A major casino group has attempted to win round a Church of England bishop to super casinos by highlighting the potential financial benefits for local Church projects.
Posted: Wednesday, June 7 , 2006

A casino giant has met with a staunchly anti-casino bishop from the Church of England as eight city councils continue to battle it out over the right to build a new Las Vegas-style super casino.

The Telegraph reports that the South Africa-based gambling company Sun City Casino has met with the Rt Rev John Nicholls, the Bishop of Sheffield, to highlight the financial benefits that could result for Church projects if plans for a controversial £200 million gambling complex are approved.

The meeting has been regarded by senior diocesan figures as an attempt to win the bishop’s support and is likely to raise more concerns about government plans to establish the super casino that will feature 1,250 slot machines and unlimited jackpots.

Huge outcry from church leaders, anti-gambling groups and Labour MPs have already forced the Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell to cut the number of planned super casinos from eight to just one. the rest