Gordon Brown was accused of “shameful irresponsibility” last night as he prepared to give the green light to a wave of huge regional casinos. Although the Prime Minister symbolically axed Britain’s first Las Vegas-style supercasino, it emerged that 16 gambling palaces would still get the go-ahead.

Whitehall sources signalled that eight large and eight medium-sized casinos would go ahead. Large casinos, 1,393 sqm in size with 150 machines offering USD 7,934 jackpots, are planned for Leeds, Hull, Middlesbrough, Milton Keynes, Great Yarmouth, Solihull, Southampton and Newham, East London.

Smaller casinos of 696,7 sqm and boasting 80 machines also offering USD 7,934 prizes will be developed in Stranraer, Skegness, Bath, Luton, Scarborough, Swansea, Torbay and Wolverhampton.