THE roulette wheels will spin for the last time tonight at a Glasgow casino.
THE roulette wheels will spin for the last time tonight at a Glasgow casino.
Gala Casinos, the city's biggest operator, is axing its casino in the landmark North Rotunda in Tunnel Street - five weeks after Scotland's biggest gambling centre opened on the other side of the Clyde.
Two Asian restaurants that share the Rotunda - Yen Oriental and Teppanyaki - will stay open.
A Gala spokeswoman blamed increased costs, such as the new casino tax and a rise in licence fees, as well as "increased competition".
The Rotunda casino has 45 staff. Gala is trying to find alternative jobs at its other casinos or bingo halls and betting shops.
Union negotiator John Moist, of the GMB, said the recent opening of the Alea casino at Springfield Quay had a "significant impact" on the Rotunda, but he believes Glasgow's other casinos - all based in the city centre - are under no threat.
The Rotunda casino specialised in stag and hen parties, offering punters the choice of four American roulette tables, three blackjack tables, a jackpot stud poker table and six electronic roulette tables, as well as two three-card poker tables.
The B-listed North Rotunda - and its cross river sister the South Rotunda - were entrances to the tunnels that linked Finnieston Quay and Mavisbank Quay on either side of the river.
The tunnels were shut to pedestrians in 1980 and finally closed in 1987.
However, restaurateur Mario Romano bought the Rotunda and turned the derelict building into one of Glasgow's top Italian eateries in the late 1980s.
Mr Romano is the father-in-law of ex-Rangers' star Rino Gattuso and dad of former GMTV presenter Carla Romano.
In 1995 Mr Romano applied to turn part of the building into a casino, which was later taken over by Hilton and then by bingo group Gala, part of the Coral gaming empire.
The restaurants have also changed since then.
Tonight's casino closure follows the launch last month of the £25m Alea on the south side of the Clyde.
Owned by Las Vegas gambling giant Harrah's, the Alea also has a restaurant, coffee shop, three bars and almost 200 staff.
Glasgow has four other casinos. The Stanley and Gala in Sauchiehall Street, Gala Riverboat at the Broomielaw, and another Gala in Glassford Street.
Licences have also been granted for one due to open in the St Enoch Centre next year and for others planned for the Thistle Hotel in Cambridge Street and the Corinthian in Ingram Street.
