Casino Attendance Rising In UK

Britain's biggest casino operator, Stanley Leisure, said casino attendance had risen since last month's relaxation of membership rules.

Following the dip in trade during August, Stanley, which runs 41 casinos in the UK, said attendance had risen following relaxation of membership rules on October 1.

The reforms by the UK Government to deregulate the gaming industry involved the abolition of the so-called 24-hour rule, under which new members had to wait 24 hours before being able to play.

However, Stanley said the full impact on attendance levels would not be able to be measured until the 2006-7 financial year.