Britain's first Las Vegas-style super-casino will be hosted in Manchester. The decision, by the independent Casino Advisory Panel, has shocked everyone involved. Manchester - a real dark horse being a 16-1 outsider at some bookmakers - has won over Blackpool and Millennium Dome in Greenwich, London.

Steve Weaver, chief executive of Blackpool Council, said the resort was “surprised and hugely disappointed”. While Doug Garrett, chief executive of ReBlackpool, called it a “tragedy”.

A similar mood prevails at AEG, the bidders for the Millennium Dome, whose spokesman said: "We are very disappointed that the London Borough of Greenwich has not been recommended as the location for the first regional casino”.

Manchester's bid has been preferred over others as it promised the “highest standards of social responsibility”. Bid organisers said it would regenerate a poor area of east Manchester, promising a £265 million investment and 2,700 new jobs. The casino will be based next to the Manchester City FC stadium and will cover at least 5,000 square meters.