Giant Las Vegas-style casinos planned for the North-East looked to have fallen victim to the election yesterday, when the Government agreed to allow just one licence across the whole UK.

The move came in a deal with the Conservatives to push the controversial Gambling Bill through Parliament before it is dissolved next week.

The numbers had already been cut from 40 to just eight "regional casinos" after opposition from backbench Labour MPs including Newcastle Central's Jim Cousins.

The North-East was likely to bid for one of the licences, with developers in Newcastle, Sunderland and Middlesbrough jostling for the right to build a casino that would provide a huge boost to regeneration plans.

But Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell yesterday agreed to allow just one pilot casino - likely to be sited in Blackpool - with a clause allowing the numbers to be restored to eight only if both houses of Parliament vote for it after the election - meaning a re-elected Labour government could not simply rely on its Commons majority.

North-East leaders yesterday insisted they still hoped for a casino, but accepted they could be forced for a longer wait.

Plans put forward included link-ups between casinos and football clubs at both St James's Park in Newcastle and Sunderland's Stadium of Light.

The plan for Sunderland's Stadium of Light, drawn up by US firm Las Vegas Sands Inc, meant a £100m investment creating 1,200 jobs.

But Shadow Culture Secretary John Whittingdale said: "Its location should be a leisure resort where the regeneration potential is greatest. The case for locating such a casino in Blackpool is very strong."

North-East Chamber of Commerce chief executive George Cowcher said: "We're up against other premier locations in the UK and although we've got a lot going for us as a great cultural area, we know that other communities will also make that play."

Development bosses here were refusing to give up all hope last night. North-East Assembly assistant director Malcolm Bowes said: "We'll have to wait and see where the super casino is to be located before it would be appropriate to comment further."

A spokesman for regional development agency One Northeast said: "We will watch the bill's progress with great interest, given the impact it could have on the North-East's leisure and tourism industries."

A Sunderland Council spokeswoman said last night: "We will wait with interest to see what the next steps will be."

But Durham North MP Kevan Jones, part of the Commons committee scrutinising the legislation, said the concession was sensible.

"Some of this was impractical and unworkable - we need to look at what the effects of these changes are going to be by having one pilot."

The Journal: Today's Voice of the North

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