In a sign that the Government has cooled on the idea of spreading more casinos throughout the country it is writing to local councils who have been awarded the 16 licences for small and large casinos to make sure they still want them, said Culture Secretary James Purnell.
He wants them to 'confirm their continued desire to licence a new casino' as some had changed political control in the May elections.
'I am sure that both Houses of parliament will wish to take account of a renewed commitment from the areas concerned when the time comes to consider this matter again,' Purnell said.
'If any of the local authorities have had a change of heart, I will not include them in the new legislation.'
He confirmed the government wanted to revisit the controversial issue of the so-called regional or 'super casino' originally granted to Manchester as there was 'no consensus' on both sides of parliament on 'whether we should have a regional casino at all'.
Last week, Prime Minister Gordon Brown appeared to scupper the super casino when he questioned whether it was an appropriate way to bring regeneration to deprived areas. Departmental sources said the plan was 'dead in the water'.
The issue is at a standstill after the House of Lords rejected the government's plans by three votes earlier this year.
Meanwhile Church Action on Poverty has expressed satisfaction at Prime Minister Gordon Brown's recent announcement to review, ¬and in probability to scrap, the plans for a super-casino in Manchester.
The Manchester-based Christian campaigning network has described it as "a victory for common sense' and one that will be welcomed by many people within the city."
Niall Cooper, national coordinator of Church Action on Poverty, and vice-chair of the Debt on our Doorstep network said: "Contrary to the impression that the City Council and some local MPs want to give, not everyone in Manchester supported the Super Casino plan. Many Mancunians tonight will be breathing a huge sigh of relief at the scrapping of the plans for the Super Casino.”
