Proposals for the creation of a casino came a step closer to reality this week after Solihull Council's overview and scrutiny management board decided to back them. The board will recommend full council does not resist the building of a Casino in Solihull should the government give the go-ahead. Uncertainty still surrounds the scheme, following the rejection of government recommendations in the House of Lords but supporters remain hopeful it will eventually be given the green light.

Further discussions on whether a casino should be sited in Solihull will be held at a meeting on Monday night. On Friday Solihull Council's overview and scrutiny management board met to consider whether a casino built at the NEC or anywhere else in Solihull would be in the interests of the borough. A number of speakers and interested parties - both for and against the casino - made representations but the board decided to defer their recommendation to their next meeting on Monday.

Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell was accused in the High Court of treating existing gaming establishments with "blatant unfairness" as she pushed ahead with plans for 17 new casinos, including in Solihull and Wolverhampton. Lost profits could be as much as GBP 120 million a year and old, established operators forced out of business, a judge was told.