Sarah Blaney and Anthony Ronald are just two of 46 local people - many of whom were previously unemployed - who have been trained by Aspers in a range of skills from dealing to reception work.

Sarah, 25, from Whitley Bay, said: "Before I started training I didn't know anything about gaming. It's been much harder than I thought, but I am loving it, especially roulette and three-card poker, as you are more involved with the customers and they make you think. I can't wait until it opens to put all the training into practise."

Nineteen-year-old Anthony Ronald, from Cramlington, was unemployed and applying for loads of different jobs when he heard about the Aspers training programme.