Gambling Minister Sees No Plan for Super Casino Acceptance

MANCHESTER, England – As reported by the Manchester Evening News: "The minister in charge of gambling has admitted the government has `not got a position' on how to take forward Manchester's
Artist's rendering of the Manchester complex where the UK's only super casino will be built.  supercasino bid.

"Richard Caborn told the M.E.N. his department was still considering its next steps after the House of Lords blocked the plan, which would have brought 3,000 jobs to a deprived part of east Manchester near SportCity.

"'We have not got a position on it at present,' he said. 'We want the 17 casinos determined by the Casino Advisory Panel (CAP).

"'The Lords decided not to accept the recommendations and we are still considering what the next step will be.'

"Senior sources behind the Manchester bid played down the significance of Mr Caborn's frank words, claiming it was more significant that both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown had pledged to revive the plans.

"And briefings from Westminister suggested Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell - Mr Caborn's boss - was looking to find a way of siting supercasinos in both Manchester and main rival Blackpool.

"The CAP, an independent body of experts appointed by Parliament, made the shock decision to recommend Manchester as the site of Britain's first supercasino in January.

"That was put to both Houses of Parliament in March as part of a package that also included 16 smaller casinos nationwide.

"The Commons agreed - but the Lords voted the move down by just three votes.

"Ms Jowell has insisted publicly that the plans for Manchester remain `very much alive', and Mr Blair pledged to `find a way of putting it right'. But Mr Caborn, asked if the Lords could be allowed to overrule the elected Commons, said: 'They can, and they have done it. There was an agreement it had to go through both Houses.