After more than four years in Newcastle, which have seen it become the most popular casino outside London, Aspers at The Gate is now worth more than £20 million each year to the North East economy.

Calculated by bosses to mark the launch of Aspers new 200-seat poker room, the figures combine the spending power of the 200 staff with the amount spent by customers in the casino, restaurant, bars and beauty salon of Newcastle's largest casino. It also includes the sums spent with suppliers in the region, who provide everything from furniture to food.

 "We thought it would be interesting to find out just how much Aspers at The Gate has contributed to this region since it opened in 2005," said Richard Noble, Chief Operations Officer of Aspers Group. "Having been conceived as an integral part of The Gate development, Aspers is now a landmark venue in itself, attracting both seasoned gamblers and curious partygoers."

 Aspers uniquely advantageous location, with one entrance in The Gate and another in Chinatown, is a key factor in its enduring popularity. Having become the first casino in the UK to go membership-free and the first to introduce 24 hour opening in the region, both in 2008, Aspers was also the first in the UK to introduce Casino War and has recently reintroduced a Craps table to Newcastle.

"The Aspers brand is a key factor in our success as it means different things to different people," said Richard Smith, General Manager of Aspers at The Gate. "We try to be glamorous without being elitist, and exciting enough that people are curious enough to come through the doors. It's also about being more than just a casino; many people come here for lunch, a drink or even a facial, without gambling at all."

Covering 45,000 square feet, Aspers is by far the largest casino in the North East, offering 27 traditional gaming tables, one interactive electronic roulette table and 87 electronic gaming terminals offering roulette, blackjack or punto banco, as well as 20 slot machines.

To meet the demands of its growing customer base, with membership of the Aspire loyalty scheme currently standing at 138,000, Aspers recently launched a recruitment drive for the Newcastle site. In particular, management are searching for new entrants to the Aspers croupier training school, which has successfully trained hundreds of recruits from the region over the past four years, leading to a guaranteed role for those who are successful.

"We're very proud of what we've achieved here in Newcastle, establishing a successful model that is now being rolled out across the UK," added Mr Noble. "This city has not only proved the perfect testing ground for a new type of leisure venue, with gaming at its heart, it also remains the most successful site in the group."

Aspers is now an established venue on the UK gaming circuit, with Sky Poker the latest brand to bring its nationwide Poker Festival to the casino in January. Along with other high-profile brands, such as Virgin, these tournaments generate global publicity for the region, as well as bringing in visitors with high disposable income.

Aspers is open to those aged 18 and over.  Photo ID is required if you look under 21 and to join the Aspire Loyalty Club.  www.gambleaware.co.uk

ENDS

Issued on behalf of Aspers at The Gate

by Point Pleasant Communications

For further information please contact Rob Lawson

on (0191) 275 9778 (Mobile: 07940 501 993) or email rob@point-pleasant.co.uk

Notes to Editors:

• Aspers is a 45,000ft2 leisure facility in the heart of Newcastle upon Tyne.
• The venue includes bars, restaurant, beauty spa, live entertainment and state-of-the-art gaming facilities.
• Aspers has attracted almost 138,000 members in just under four years from a catchment area covering Northumberland and County Durham, reaching across to Cumbria and down to York.
• In late 2007 Aspers became the first casino operator in the country to launch a loyalty club - Aspire - that allows customers to collect and redeem points throughout its operations (including gaming). Customers are now able to gain points for every purchase made on the premises and can also earn bonus points on selected promotions.
• In April 2008, Aspers became the first British casino to go 'membership free' which means that virtually all visitors can freely walk through the reception area without completing membership forms.
• At every Aspers location, the company has set up the Community Action for Responsible Gaming (CARG) programme. This initiative is unique to Aspers and is based on similar successful schemes in Australia and New Zealand. CARG is a voluntary, not-for-profit group that seeks to constructively address problem gambling issues in society through a working partnership between local community-based interest groups.