Super Casino Choice May Be Re-Examined

The controversial decision to site the UK's first super casino in Manchester is to be re-examined by MPs and peers.

Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell offered the concession as debates began in the Commons and Lords on the plans which are facing challenges in both Houses.

It is not yet clear whether the planned joint committee could overthrow the Manchester choice, or just look at how it was made and advise on the future.

MPs and lords are debating the plans at the moment with votes due by 1900 BST. Labour rebels are expected to vote with the Tories against the order.

In the Commons at about 1900 BST dozens of Labour rebels are expected to join Tories in opposing the plan.

The votes also cover 16 other planned Casinos. Defeat in either will send the plans back to the drawing board.

Manchester was controversially picked by an independent panel ahead of the frontrunners Blackpool and the Dome.

More than 100 MPs - including 83 Labour - have previously signed a parliamentary motion expressing "surprise and regret" at the recommendation to build the super casino in Manchester.

Supporters of Blackpool's bid - which was tipped as the favourite - say it is needed there to improve the town's fortunes.

Leading Labour rebel, Joan Humble, MP for Blackpool North and Fleetwood, said: "It's always difficult to estimate how much of that concern will translate into either a vote against or abstention. The government should be aware that what we want is an opportunity for Blackpool's bid to be properly considered. We want fairness in this."

Ms Humble said her emphasis was on the super casino location, and she was disappointed that the vote was for all 17 casinos.

"What I want is that the government recognises there is little controversy over the 16 large and small casinos. They could and should be dealt with now. But there needs to be much, much closer scrutiny of how we locate, where we locate the new super casino," she said.

The Gambling Order grants the powers to issue licences for new casinos.

Neither MPs nor peers can vote to change the locations, so critics will have to vote against the entire order.

In the Commons that will be a straight vote, but in the Lords there are expected to be two votes, one of which would kill the plans, and the other which would express unhappiness but not kill them off.

Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell said if the plans were rejected, there "could be no Plan B quickly" implemented.

She told the Financial Times that the government would offer Blackpool regeneration funds - but denied she was trying to bribe the rebels with concessions.

"We're not talking about buying off a rebellion," she told the FT. "This is very much in response to specific representations by a very large number of MPs. There is no question that I am doing some sort of backstairs deal."

The Casino Advisory Panel chose Manchester as the super casino venue in January 2007.

It also recommended that large casinos should be licensed at Great Yarmouth, Kingston-upon-Hull, Leeds, Middlesbrough, Milton Keynes, Newham, Solihull and Southampton.

And it said that small casinos should be sited at Bath and North East Somerset, Dumfries and Galloway, East Lindsey, Luton, Scarborough, Swansea, Torbay and Wolverhampton.

Gaming operator Rank Group said it feared the plans were unfair to existing casinos.

Ian Burke, its chief executive, said that the recommendations provided "unfair competition" in 11 of the 17 areas that the Casino Advisory Panel has recommended get the new licence.

He said the new casinos would be able to offer bingo, sports betting and additional machines, allowing them to offer "a much broader range of gaming product" than existing businesses in those areas which operate under the 1968 Gaming Act.

However, Mr Burke added: "Overall, we think the government has to be given credit for trying to modernise the legislation governing the gaming industry."