SOLIHULL has been given the go-ahead for a large casino - and the most likely location for it is the National Exhibition Centre at Bickenhill.
Culture Secretary Andy Burnham confirmed in the Commons yesterday that Solihull was among eight towns and cities chosen for the new gaming attractions.
Large casinos will have a minimum total customer area of 1,500 metres and be permitted to have up to 150 gaming machines with a maximum jackpot of £4,000.
Mr Burnham also announced the huge Las Vegas-style regional - or super - casino planned for Manchester is to be scrapped.
Manchester was the surprise winner - ahead of Blackpool - of a bid to create a huge gambling venue, but announcing a review of the decision in July, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said super-casinos were not the best way to regenerate run-down areas.
Wolverhampton was confirmed yesterday as one of the eight locations for smaller casinos, which will have up to 80 slot machines.
Leader of the council, Cllr Ken Meeson said: "I think the good thing is it has got rid of any uncertainty. We had all that debate and then it all went extremely quiet."
Cllr Meeson added that the timetable would now be dictated by applicants seeking to run the casino, adding he expected the NEC to apply.
"I am sure the NEC will be delighted and will almost certainly be bringing forward proposals.
"Our job as the licencing authority is to ensure any casino is run properly and there must be protection to avoid any problems with people getting into a gambling habit."
Cllr Meeson added that the NEC was likely to be a strong candidate, given its out-of-town location and the fact it was catering primarily for visitors rather than being a dedicated gambling destination.
