The first phase of Resorts World Birmingham – a casino resort being developed by Genting UK Plc at Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre in the English Midlands – will open on October 21, local media reported. Genting UK, a unit of casino operator Genting Malaysia Bhd, plans a phased opening spanning several weeks, according to the reports.
The new GBP150-million (US$229.2-million) property Resorts World Birmingham (pictured in a rendering) covers 12 storeys and includes 178 hotel rooms, a casino, a 50-outlet shopping mall and an 11-screen cinema.
The shops, restaurants and bars will open on October 21, followed by the cinema two days later. The casino at the property will launch on October 26, while the four-star Genting Hotel will open on November 2, the company said.
“We are very excited, following a two-year build programme, that Resorts World Birmingham is coming to life,” Genting’s UK president and chief operating officer, Peter Brooks, said in a statement quoted by local media.
“There will be much more to experience at Resorts World Birmingham as the weeks go by and the resort becomes fully operational,” added Mr Brooks.
Japanese brokerage Nomura said in a note in June that the casino at Resorts World Birmingham is to have “up to 30 gaming tables, 150 slot machines, sports betting and bingo”. “Resorts World Birmingham … should lead to future earnings uplift from Genting Malaysia’s U.K. operations,” the brokerage said.
Genting Malaysia operates casino properties in Malaysia, the United States, the Bahamas and the United Kingdom.
According to a corporate website, Genting UK operates more than 40 gaming venues in the U.K, under the brands Genting Casino and Genting Club. The firm currently operates three gaming venues in Birmingham.
Genting Malaysia announced last week that it has entered an agreement to acquire online casino operator Genting Alderney Ltd, in a deal worth GBP7.20 million.
“Following the proposed acquisition, the operations of Genting Alderney and Genting UK are expected to be streamlined as an integrated online, mobile and retail gaming business under the focus of a single management in order to deliver a seamless multi-channel customer experience in the U.K.,” said Genting Malaysia.
