New casino in the UK smashes all records for pre-opening membership numbers
The new Opera House Casino in Scarborough has smashed all records for pre-opening membership numbers for a UK casino.
More than 5,000 people have already become members of the St Thomas Street casino even though it hasn't opened yet.
The casino began taking advance membership applications on September 5 and has generated unprecedented interest from across the country.
The local response has left owners Nikolas Shaw Ltd confident in its decision to invest in such a project for Scarborough, the £7 million cost representing the single largest leisure investment in the town for more than 30 years.
Nikolas and Rebecca Shaw, owners of the company, said they are Scarborough based and the Opera House Casino will actually be one of only eight private companies operating casinos in the UK.
"From the very start we have done everything we can to create something special in a venue the town can really be proud of, and we think this is why the people of Scarborough have taken it to their hearts the way they have."
In the past few weeks excitement has been growing around the project which will see the venue open for gaming shortly.
It will end three years of hard work developing the North's premier casino in the seaside town.
The casino is situated on the former site of the Opera House in St Thomas Street and will boast 11 gaming tables, 20 electronic gaming terminals and 20 Las Vegas-style slot machines, as well as three bars and a restaurant which overlooks the entire gaming floor.
