Blackpool casino dream alive

Blackpool Airport could be expecting a lot more business in the near future after the city was given renewed hope of staging the UK's first supercasino.

The governments' Casino Advisory Panel (CAP) chose outside bidder Manchester back in January – but a recent Lord's committee has torn into the plans, calling them "flawed".

Blackpool is being touted for its proven track-record, ahead of the rundown proposed site in Manchester.

CAP panel chairman Professor Stephen Crow was forced to mount a defence of the decision to choose Manchester, insisting gambling would "not become a problem" in Britain's "third most popular tourist destination".

But Blackpool South MP Gordon Marsden was not convinced by Prof Crow's arguments.

Speaking to the Blackpool Gazette, he said: "I did not think he was convincing, his answers were vague, especially in relation to social impact and regeneration.

"I would say it adds to the deep concerns many people have about the selection process and why we feel it should be open to scrutiny."

The sought-after license was expected to be a two-horse race between Blackpool and London and could see up to 1,250 unlimited jackpot gaming machines in the Las-Vegas style casino.