North Councils Make A Play For UK Casino

The Government has named three North-East councils among a list of bids for Britain's first Las Vegas-style super casino. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport, has revealed 47 local authorities are interested in securing the lucrative bid - including Newcastle, Sunderland and Middlesbrough.

They will compete against councils from across the UK including Manchester, Cardiff and Glasgow, to win the right to build the super casino. The area that wins the bid is expected to receive a huge amount of regeneration through public buildings and jobs. Ministers reduced the number of proposed super casinos from eight to one just before the General Election last May.

But Richard Caborn, the minister responsible for gambling, has indicated this could change if there was a significant demand. If the Government decides to allow just one super casino to be built, the favourites to win the bid are expected to be either London or Blackpool.