Government to officially scrap super-casino plans

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The Government is expected to officially announce that it will scrap plans for a super-casino in Manchester but will confirm plans for 16 regional casinos this week. The plans have been under review since Gordon Brown took over as Prime Minister last summer.

Manchester won the bid to develop a Las Vegas-style resort in January last year but Brown called the review saying super-casinos were not the best way to regenerate run-down areas.

Andy Burnham, the Culture Secretary (pictured), is expected to confirm the plans to ministers in a statement while Hazel Blears, the Communities Secretary, is also expected to announce an alternative development package for the Manchester area.

Manchester was the surprise winner over bids from Blackpool and London, which wanted to convert The O2 Dome into a huge casino complex. It is thought to be considering an appeal should the plans be scrapped.

Milton Keynes, Swansea, Wolverhampton, Torbay, Southampton and Solihull are among the 16 towns expected to be given the green light to develop casinos, which will be allowed to hold up to 150 slot machines and prizes of up to £4,000.

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