Government set to scrap Manchester 'super-casino'

The Government will tomorrow confirm plans for 16 regional casinos - while officially scrapping the so-called "super-casino" supposed to lead regeneration in a depressed area of Manchester.

Culture Secretary Andy Burnham is expected to confirm the smaller gambling projects will be developed, in a statement to MPs tomorrow afternoon.

But he will repeat Prime Minister Gordon Brown's view, first expressed in July weeks after taking over at No 10, that a super-casino is not the best way to bring regeneration to run-down areas.

An announcement is also expected from Communities Secretary Hazel Blears on an alternative package to develop the Manchester area that would have hosted Britain's first Las Vegas-style casino.

Mr Brown's spokesman said tonight: "You can expect the casinos announcement tomorrow."

Asked if the regeneration scheme would also be announced, he replied: "That's the general anticipation."

The spokesman went on: "As we said in July, there is a huge difference in scale in terms of gambling opportunities in a super-casino and smaller casinos.

"What we said was we would work up alternative regeneration packages which did not rely on a super-casino."

Casinos holding up to 150 slot machines with prizes of up to £4,000 are expected to be approved in Leeds; Southampton; Great Yarmouth; Middlesbrough; Solihull; Hull; Milton Keynes and Newham, London.

Smaller casinos are expected to be given the go-ahead in Somerset; Dumfries and Galloway; Scarborough; Wolverhampton; Swansea; Luton; Torbay and East Lindsey, Lincs.

Manchester MPs reacted with anger when the plans for a super-casino in the city were abandoned by Mr Brown.

But anti-gambling pressure groups, charities and church groups praised the decision.

Shadow culture secretary Jeremy Hunt said: "After seven months of dithering, the Government's gambling policy is a mess.

"The original decision on the supercasino now appears to be about nothing more than headlines as the Government has pretty much nothing in the cupboard to tackle the growing social evil of problem gambling.

"When will the Government understand this is not about the size of the casino but the underlying protections put in place to prevent and treat a social disorder that breaks up families?"