Cardiff Council and developer Orion Land and Leisure have chosen Australian company Aspers as the preferred casino operator for its £700m Sports Village property in Cardiff Bay.

The casino and hotel complex will create more than 1,500 full-time jobs.

Aspers was chosen from a field of 11 companies while Cardiff is one of a number of cities in the UK, including Bournemouth and Blackpool which are to compete for a ‘super casino’ licence.

The 80-acre Sports Village development will be based around themes of water, snow and ice.

It will include a 4,000-seat multi-purpose arena, a state-of-the-art snow box, a multi-purpose entertainment complex with waterfront-facing bars and restaurants and an ice pad suitable for international competitions. There will also be separately-funded swimming pools plus a health and fitness centre and spa.

Council leader Rodney Berman said: “The casino will be part of a complex with something for everyone. It will act as a catalyst to regenerate this part of the city.”

Orion’s chair, Richard Olsen, said: “We will be working closely with Cardiff to persuade the government that a regional casino should be located on the site.”

Outline planning permission for the property was granted in February 2003 with preliminary work due to begin in autumn this year. Details: www.cardiff.gov.uk