Wolverhampton City Council’s planning committee has given its support to Arena Leisure’s planned Racino at Wolverhampton Racecourse.

Arena announced the scheme, a joint venture with casino operator, Gala and a first for the UK, in April 2003.

The racino will include a 35,000sq ft casino offering a mix of gaming tables and slot machines with a view directly onto the racecourse and a sports bar situated on a mezzanine floor above.

Arena and Gala will jointly invest £12m: Arena is to build the racino, which will then be fitted out and operated by Gala on a 25-year lease.

If liberalisation of gaming goes ahead as planned in the next few years, customers will be able to bet on races within the racino before watching the race live in front of them. This not possible under existing laws.

The plans, which also include extending the racecourse’s onsite Holiday Inn hotel, will now be considered by the Government Office before final approval can be achieved.