New Vegas: seaside resorts

The planning system is to be used to prevent an explosion in the number of casinos, the government has announced.

Publishing a consultation paper on plans to relax gaming laws, ministers detailed plans to prevent the creation of high street gaming premises.

The proposals follow the review of gambling laws carried out by Sir Alan Budd.

Under the latest plans the minimum size of new casinos will be twice that proposed by Sir Alan.

Ministers hope this will create Vegas-style casinos in seaside resorts but halt the proliferation of "corner shop" gaming rooms luring young people into gambling.

Whilst the government is standing firm on commitments to allow huge jackpots in major venues, there will be strict limits on the payouts available in smaller casinos.

There will also be a limit on the number of fruit machines casinos can install. The government will permit three machines per gaming table.

Gaming minister Lord McIntosh said: "The licensing regime for casinos must strike a clear balance between bringing gambling further into the mainstream leisure industry and ensuring fairness to participants and the protection of children and the vulnerable.

"Our proposals for the minimum size of casinos and numbers of gaming machines will not however affect any plans to open up resort-style casinos - it is just important that they are not situated on every street corner."

Planning minister Keith Hill added: "Regional planning bodies will promote economic growth, development and regeneration in the right places.

"Casinos as part of large tourism development can make a significant contribution to the local economy especially in areas that depend on tourism and need regeneration."

David Beeton, the director general of the British Casino Association, gave a cautious welcome to some elements of the consultation paper.

Moves to exempt casinos with more than 40 tables from the three machine rule were welcome, he said.

"What the government has done is alter the package," said Beeton.

"We are going to carefully examine the proposals to assess the consequences for our members."