A record number of bidders have confirmed that they will battle it out for the right to open a super casino in Southampton.
A total of seven applications have been received by the city council, the largest number submitted to any local authority.
Southampton is one of only eight councils that have been granted permission to open a large casino in the UK. Now the authority has revealed the firms who will bid to take on the licence.
The preferred site for the casino has so far been the Royal Pier Waterfront with both Grosvenor, who already operate a venue at Ocean Village, and Aspers already declaring their interest.
Companies which will also be vying for the right to run the casino now include Kymeira Casino Ltd and Genting Casinos UK Ltd which already runs a venue at Terminus Terrace in the city.
Global Gaming Ventures is the other operator to declare an interest, submitting two bids – one for the Royal Pier Waterfront site and another plan to build a casino as part of the new Watermark development at WestQuay.