Minister insists casino plans have not been axed

Plans for a Las Vegas-style regional casino in Manchester are still on the drawing board together with proposals for 16 large and small new casinos at different locations across the UK, culture secretary Tessa Jowell has insisted.

The Department for Media, Culture and Sport is currently considering how it will revisit its strategy following the recent Lords decision to reject the secondary legislation needed to grant the schemes new-look gambling licences.

Some observers believe that ministers may have to give ground and allow a review of the decision by the independent Casino Advisory Panel to opt for the Manchester 'super casino' proposals, a surprise decision which wrong-footed the commonly-held frontrunners, Blackpool and Greenwich.

However, no decision is expected from the department until after the forthcoming Scottish, Welsh and local elections.

The position has been further complicated by the decision of the British Casino Association to mount a High Court challenge to the Government's plans. It claims that it is unfair to allow the new schemes more floorspace and gaming machines than existing premises.

Roger Milne

5 April 2007