Casino City Plan Set To Go Ahead In Spain

Local people back plans for casino and theme park complex in Aragon.

Regional authorities in Spain are set to grant approval for the Gran Scala development, a £14 billion project that has been billed as Europe's answer to Las Vegas.

International Leisure Development (ILD) wants to build a major complex of casinos, theme parks and hotels in a rural area of the Aragon region, near the sleepy village of Ontinena.

The proposals have already been welcomed by many of the villagers, with Ontinena's mayor Angel Torres hailing the expected economic impact of the development.

"It's a great project and it represents the future of Ontinena, the region and all Spain, so the town council is strongly behind it to make sure it happens as quickly as possible," he told the BBC.

According to ILD, the Gran Scala could provide employment for up to 200,000 people once up and running.

Situated an hour's drive from Zaragoza, the casino city will contain over 32 casino hotels spread over an area the size of 1,500 football pitches, as well as five theme parks, a golf course and a race track.