Leaders of the bid for a Las Vegas-style casino in Newcastle admitted last night that they were not among the favourites to be awarded the licence when it is announced tomorrow.
Councillors and development chiefs hope to use a casino to pull in funds for a major convention centre in the city.
The panel set up by Government to advise on casino locations is due to publish its decision on where the solitary supercasino should go tomorrow.
But Newcastle Gateshead Initiative chief executive Andrew Dixon, one of the leading figures behind the Newcastle bid, yesterday acknowledged that Blackpool and the Millennium Dome in Greenwich, south London, are viewed as more likely to get the prize.
Mr Dixon said: "Getting the casino would be a major boost to the city, not least because of the opportunity to build a new convention centre.
"I think Newcastle put in an extremely strong bid, but we all know that Greenwich and Blackpool have been the favourites for some time."
However, he said he hoped the bid would stand Newcastle in good stead if the Government decided to extend the number of super casino licences on offer.
His comments came as the British Medical Association warned that a supercasino would lead to more people suffering gambling addiction.
Unions, however, said they would welcome a casino because of job creation benefits.
Ministers cut plans for eight licences down to just one pilot, which will test regeneration benefits, in a compromise deal to get casinos legislation through Parliament before the 2005 General Election.
But Mr Dixon said: "It has been rumoured that the Government will go back to the original plans and allow eight to 10 super casinos.
"Clearly Newcastle Gateshead, as a growing tourism destination, must be in line to get a major casino at some point."
The city council's bid said only a casino could provide the £100m needed to build a 1,500-capacity convention centre in Newcastle.
It claims the complex could mean £63m a year revenue and 2,000 jobs for the city.
The NGI says it was forced to turn down at least 40 major events attracting 40,000 delegates because of a lack of a suitable venue in the past three years - at a cost to the city of £20m.
But opponents say a venue - likely to be placed in the Discovery Quarter near the city's West End - would increase problem gambling in nearby deprived communities.
Council executive member for regeneration Mike Cookson said: "We've got a lot of activity going on in the city for regeneration and for the next two days I'm concentrating on the realities of what is happening, rather than speculating on the casino."
