LONDON (AFX) - The Labour Party has no plans to expand immediately the number of "super casinos" if re-elected, a spokeswoman told AFX News.

Speaking in response to comments by Prime Minister Tony Blair last night that he did not feel that large complexes pose a threat to society, she said the party could only abide by the current act which only allows for one large regional casino to be built.
"At the moment the Gambling Act allows for one (casino) and we have got to go ahead on that basis. There are no plans to bring it forward and there is no dialogue on the subject," the spokeswoman said.

However, she added that if there was demand from local communities and businesses to revisit the subject "then we would have to take that into account.

The government originally envisaged up to 40 Las Vegas-style casinos which would regenerate Britain's seaside resorts and bring in much-needed tax revenues. This was cut to eight during the legislation's committee stage.

After pressure from anti-gambling campaigners and the Conservative Party, the agreed number fell from eight to one although the Gambling Act does allow for expansion subject to a vote in both house of parliament.

There is tremendous competition among local authorities to get the first super casino. Blackpool is the main contender but faces stiff opposition from the North East where Newcastle United PLC and Sunderland PLC want to build casinos next to their football stadiums.

Newcastle has been in talks with MGM Mirage Inc to build a complex with 1,250 slot machines.

Blair told the BBC last night he disagreed with opponents to large casinos, many of them from his own party, saying: "Until...the newspapers started running a campaign on this, virtually everyone was in favour of these proposals."

fp/tc

COPYRIGHT

Copyright AFX News Limited 2005. All rights reserved.

The copying, republication or redistribution of AFX News content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of AFX News.

AFX News and the AFX Financial News logo are registered trademarks of AFX News Limited