SOURCE: timesonline.co.uk

Gordon Brown has killed off the chances of a super-casino opening in Britain, in his most explicit break from the Blair era to date.

Despite four years of intense lobbying by casino organizations, an unprecedented competition between councils and a huge parliamentary effort, the Prime Minister today signalled that vast Las Vegas-style gambling dens will not come to Britain.

Although Mr. Brown stopped short of declaring to the Commons that no regional casinos would be built, The Times understands from government sources that the plan for regional casinos is "dead in the water". Plans for 16 smaller casinos may return to Parliament over the next few months.

Mr. Brown previously indicated his lack of enthusiasm for super-casinos, having imposed a 50 percent tax on any large gambling venues at the last election. By contrast, Tony Blair repeatedly indicated that he was happy for unlimited numbers of super-casinos, only restricted by the market, because he believed they brought regeneration benefits to run down areas.

Today the Prime Minister told the Commons that regeneration may be a better way of meeting the economic and social needs of hard-pressed areas than the creation of super casinos.

Mr. Brown indicated to Andy Reed, the Labour MP for Loughborough, that ministers would have a period of “reflection” on the future of the casino plans over the summer.

The policy U-turn was met with shock in Manchester, which won the competition to run Britain's first supercasino earlier this year.

Chris Fletcher, policy director of Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, said: “I think following the announcement today we are amazed and a bit shocked about what Mr. Brown has said."

"The idea behind the Supercasino in east Manchester was that it would lever further private investment money into the area as a catalyst for the regeneration already going on."

“Manchester won fair and square."

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