A proposed supercasino in Manchester will be scrapped but 16 smaller casinos, including one in Stranraer, will go ahead according to a leaked letter sent to the Scottish Government, it was claimed last night.
The letter, handed to the BBC, was sent by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to both the Scottish and Welsh devolved administrations as part of the consultation process.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: "We have received notification from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport of the intention to proceed with eight large and eight small casinos - including a small casino at Stranraer - although understand that no final decision has been made."
Last night, a spokeswoman for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport said: "We are statutorily required to write to Scottish and Welsh ministers to consult before making a decision how to proceed.
"No final decision has been made," she added, saying it would be done "as soon as possible". That decision is likely to be announced shortly after MPs return from next week's half-term break.
Shadow Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt said: "The government's flip-flops on this have left Manchester's regeneration plans in tatters and the gambling industry in turmoil."
The controversial Las Vegas-style gambling venue was dubbed "dead in the water" by Whitehall insiders when Gordon Brown announced a review after becoming Prime Minister last year. Glasgow was one of several locations that lost out to Manchester.
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