Design lays stake on casino jobs

Design will have a “considerable” role to play in the layout and branding of casinos if the Government’s White Paper relaxing gambling regulations comes into being.

Changes mooted in the consultative document unveiled last week include the introduction of two gaming machines per table and a potential 13 new casino sites around the country.

Birmingham group Edward Lyon Design has already been appointed to review the casino interiors of an undisclosed UK chain, as a result of the proposals from the Home Office.

The effect on design will be “considerable, as we will have to create a new area to accommodate the new machines”, says the consultancy’s proprietor Edward Lyon, who has previously worked on interiors for Rank-owned Grosvenor Casinos, the UK’s biggest operator.

The introduction of machines in smaller sites “will require some careful space management”, confirms Grosvenor Casinos commercial director John Espey.

Casino branding may also be assessed as casinos try to shake off their seedy image in favour of a social club, Lyon adds.

Grosvenor Casinos went through a rebranding exercise and renaming in January “with an eye to possible legislation changes”, Espey says. Design work was by Coley Porter Bell (DW 2 February).

The industry has until 31 May to respond to the White Paper.