GREENWICH'S deputy council leader says the borough's chances are "looking good" for winning the bid for the UK's first super casino.

Councillor Peter Brooks was pleased with how the public examination of the council's proposal for a regional casino at the Millennium Dome went yesterday.

He made a presentation to the Casino Advisory Panel (CAP) on why the Dome should be the site for the UK's first "super casino".

Cllr Brooks, who is also the cabinet member for regeneration, dismissed claims the council's bid had been jeopardised by controversial stories in the national press.

The most recent story involved owners of the Dome, Anschutz's Entertainment Group (AEG), faking a document of support for its bid from religious leaders.

Cllr Brooks told News Shopper: "The panel told us at the beginning with all the stuff that's happened, it won't affect how they make their mind up on the bid and I believe that they will be a fair panel.

"It's looking good and we stand a good chance of winning.

"Hopefully it will get better and better. This is a good opportunity for London and for Greenwich."

CAP chairman Stephen Crow and his members questioned the council and AEG on the merits of having a casino in Greenwich.

They selected matters of particular interest such as the social and economic impact of a casino and the regeneration and community benefits.

Other bodies at the hearing included the Government Office for London, Greenwich, Bexley and Lewisham Chamber of Commerce and the London Development Agency.

In his opening statement to the CAP, Cllr Brooks highlighted key points of the council's bid.

He said: "The O2 (new name of the Dome) is on a part of the peninsula which will be developed as an entertainment district and the casino will be located in the O2, bringing investment of £600m to Greenwich.

"The casino will bring to the regeneration of this part of London and the Thames Gateway.

"With a casino the O2 will accelerate the pace of regeneration and transform our tourism and entertainment offer from event-based to a leisure destination.

"It will bring a 320-bed world class hotel and a second 400-500 bed hotel, exhibition space, a theatre and a wider range of outlets in the entertainment district.

"It will complement our existing World Heritage Site in Greenwich which includes the Royal Observatory, Greenwich Park, National Maritime Museum, Cutty Sark, Painted Hall, Old Royal Naval College, as well as Eltham Palace and the Royal Arsenal.

"Without the casino, the hotels, exhibition space, theatre and the further development of the entertainment district will not proceed.

"We estimate that with the casino (and other developments) there will be 4,600 jobs.

"Greenwich would be an excellent national pilot for the single regional casino licence. It will allow the social and economic impacts of the super casino to be more clearly monitored and evaluated.

"We are establishing a new multi-agency panel to tackle the issue of problem gambling which will contribute to this evaluation as the impact of a casino emerges."

Rivals for super casino

As well as the CAP hearing in Greenwich, panels in Cardiff, Newcastle, Sheffield, Manchester, Blackpool and Glasgow also heard presentations.

By mid-December their recommendations will be given to Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell who is expected to announce a winner in the new year.