The West england/east-midlands/northamptonshire/”>Northamptonshire Council has signed off on a plan to change an old Bankbank into a 24-hour casino. Officials hope-england/”>hope this will boost Daventry’s street/”>High Street. The NatWest branch, empty since 2017, will house poker tables, slot machines, and roulette. This change aims to support the town’s business area. Dominic Rossookh, owner of Northampton’s Aspers Casino, supports the plan and wants to build a place for gaming, socialising, and recreation.
The building, which is two stories and listed, has a long history. It started as a private bank called Hall and Co. in 1809. It later joined with Northamptonshire Union Bank in 1837 and became part of National Westminster by 1970. Now, the first floor will be a gaming centre with poker areas and electronic games. Besides gambling, there will be a bar, a place to eat, a lounge, and a space to watch live sports, making it a spot for both locals and tourists.
Many UK gamers are now exploring other gaming options, like non UK casinos accepting UK players but are licensed elsewhere, such as in Malta or Gibraltar. These sites offer various games, deals, and simple payment methods. Because they’re secure and regulated, they appeal to gamers seeking more choices than UK sites provide. For Daventry, the fresh casino could tap into this desire for accessible, top-notch gaming and boost the town’s economy.
The project is expected to help the economy, with around 25 full-time and 20 part-time jobs in areas like hospitality, security, and operations. Since the city wants to fix up its main street, these jobs could increase local spending and attract people from nearby towns. People who support the casino think it’s a good reuse of an empty commercial building, changing a symbol of economic decline into a place of activity and money.
But the approval wasn’t easy. Daventry Town Council is concerned about risks and well-being. Before the council met on September 9, over 60 locals shared their worries, noting that the casino is just a five-minute walk from an existing 24-hour gambling spot in Bowen Square.
The UK’s gambling sector operates under the rules set by the 2005 Gambling Act. This law focuses on fair play, checking ages, and making sure gambling is done responsibly. Casinos with permits, like the one planned for Daventry, need to have things like options to exclude yourself and staff available to help players. As local debates increase, some gamblers turn to offshore platforms that, while adhering to global standards, have fewer local restrictions. This shows how UK gamblers’ preferences are changing within a regulated but divided market.
Rossookh’s prior work with Aspers hints that the Daventry casino will highlight high-end, responsible gaming, which may ease some hesitations. Concentrating on poker, a game of skill, could appeal to players who favour strategy over chance-based games. Renovations will keep the building’s historic appeal while modernising its interior, mixing old with new. Contractors face the challenge of modernising a listed building while keeping its architectural style intact.
Approving the casino indicates a belief in economic expansion, potentially reshaping Daventry’s main street. The project could draw diverse visitors, from poker players to casual diners, possibly increasing foot traffic and benefiting nearby businesses. The community will monitor the demand for resources addressing problem gambling. Its development may encourage similar ventures or lead to stricter rules, thus altering the gaming industry in small British towns.
