UP TO 200 jobs will be created at a huge new casino in Southampton, after a gambling giant was appointed to run the new venue.

The new large casino will be the last of its kind to be created in the UK and will be built as part of the £450m Royal Pier complex, if planning permission is granted.

As well as up to 150 slot machines and 30 blackjack and roulette tables, Aspers says its new casino will offer bars, restaurants and live entertainment at the heart of the new waterfront complex.

City council chiefs filed a bid to the then-Labour Government ten years ago to build a large casino in the city, but proposals were on the table even before then.

The plans have proven controversial, with some community leaders saying it could lead to an increase in debt and social problems, but those for the plans say it will create jobs and bring in money for improvements.

Aspers, alongside fellow casino firms Grosvenor, Kymeira Casino Ltd, Genting Casinos UK Ltd and Global Gaming Ventures, all filed bids to run the casino in 2014.

The casino will be one of the centrepieces of the Royal Pier development, which will feature hundreds of homes, bars, restaurants, a hotel and a posh market if developer RPW (Southampton) Ltd's plans are approved this year.

This month the city council's licensing committee met behind closed doors to hear the submissions from each of the companies wanting to run the new casino.

An independent panel including legal professionals, a casino industry specialist and a problem gambling expert had looked over each of the bids before they went before the committee, and yesterday (Tues, March 29) it was announced that Aspers had been chosen.

The firm already runs two of the UK's other large casinos, in East London and Milton Keynes.

As part of the agreement announced by the city council, the council will be given £100,000 when the licence is granted and another £150,000 on opening, while the council will also receive at least two per cent of gross gaming revenues.

The firm will also pay the council £50,000 a year towards problem gambling initiatives, while Aspers says it will bring its Community Action for Responsible Gaming forum to Southampton.

And it will create up to 200 jobs, with the overall development set to create 10,000 new positions including construction roles.

As well as gambling facilities the company says it will offer live entertainment such as local singers and bands, "seasonal and themed events", the chance to watch live sports and bars and restaurants.

Licensing committee chairman Cllr Matt Tucker said:"Having such high-level competition has enabled us to look at all the proposals in great detail and negotiate the best deal for the city before deciding on Aspers as being the operator that we believe can deliver the most. I am sure Aspers will provide a quality and varied offer.

"They already successfully deliver large casinos in London Westfield and Milton Keynes.

"The regeneration of the waterfront at Royal Pier and Mayflower Park has been a long standing aspiration for the city, the casino will play a big part in making the redevelopment happen; accordingly it scored the best on that primary aim.

"The benefits of this development take many forms, such as inner-city regeneration, new jobs and improving the economic prospects of the city as a whole."

Aspers Group chairman Damian Aspinall said: “We are delighted with the council’s decision to award Aspers the large casino licence for Southampton. Aspers is dedicated to delivering an exceptional venue in Southampton, creating jobs and working closely with the local community.

“We are very proud to have successfully delivered the first two operational large licence casinos to the UK and are excited to now have the opportunity to bring a third high quality Aspers casino, including bars, restaurants and live entertainment, to the city of Southampton.”

Southampton Itchen MP Royston Smith said: "Naming an operator for the waterfront casino and leisure destination is another important milestone in the development of the Royal Pier.

"Two hundred new permanent jobs are to be welcomed and there will of course be construction jobs too."

Hampshire Chamber of Commerce Stewart Dunn said: "It will create extra jobs and boost Southampton's nighttime economy."