‘Fair bet' on Blackpool supercasino
Only one supercasino will be built as a result of the scramble to pass bills before parliament is dissolved on 11 April ahead of the 5 May general election.
The compromise scuppers Tessa Jowell's plans to grant 24 casino licences, which would include eight regional, eight large and eight small venues. In all 17 casinos will be built.
However, if the one supercasino proves a success, the number of giant resort casinos can be increased to eight through a resolution in parliament.
Julian Seymour of the British Casino Association could not confirm where the new casino would be based, but said it was a "fair bet" it would be Blackpool.
Other possible locations include the Millennium Dome and Wembley in London.
Spokesman for Blackpool council Michael Howard said it would like the town to have the casino, but it would be at least a year before a definite decision was made.
Hilton Hotels is bidding for the Blackpool licence and is the only British-based company in the running.
US stadium operator Anschutz Entertainment Group, which is developing the Millennium Dome site, said that its plans would not be affected should it fail to get the casino licence.
A spokesman for the company said: "This project does not rely on getting a casino licence. We are primarily building a world-class entertainment district, with music, sport and exhibition facilities."
Construction on the dome has started and it will open in spring 2007.
By Victoria Heath
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