BLACKPOOL civic leaders face a further wait to see if the resort will be allowed one of the UK's first new super casino developments.

Where the casinos are built and on what basis is still to be decided but the possibility remains of a scrap between Blackpool and East Manchester for the sole new north west gaming palace.

Reg Haslam, head of New Horizons, the group behind Blackpool's Masterplan, said: "A proliferation of super casinos in every town and city would bring only limited benefit to those places and it would be a disaster for Blackpool.

"The lesson from other countries is that the greatest regeneration benefit comes by limiting the numbers and locations of super casinos. The logical place for super casinos is in destinations like Blackpool which are already centres for entertainment, leisure and holidays."

The council's ambition has been scaled back since the launch of the Masterplan, 18 months ago, from six casino hotels to just two or three.

Two developments are intended to support the creation of a new conference facility on the former central stations car park site - an ambition which may be in doubt if only one casino is allowed for the foreseeable future. Blackpool is in talks with a number of companies, including Hilton Group, over the Central Station site and hopes to publish a development brief between now and Christmas.

As The Citizen revealed last week, the council will also have to face planning applications for casinos at two nearby sites, including the Coral Island amusement arcade.

HUNDREDS of Citizen readers had their say in our 'Talk to Tony' poll on the future of Blackpool - and gave a frosty reception to the idea of major new casinos.

An overwhelming 97.5 per cent of those who vote called on Blackpool Council to put new family attractions first, with some strongly objecting to the idea of resort casinos.

"Casinos would be a disaster," wrote one reader, while another said: "I don't want guns and mafia."

"Tell Tony to mind his own business," wrote another. Reader Lilian Curphey of St Annes wrote: "I think maybe you should print it again with a yes/no space so people can really get the message home - we have enough gambling already."

But there was also support for the casino vision. Neil Fraser of Blackpool wrote: "I am angry at the wording of the question. It makes the casino option look like the bad guy because Blackpool, I believe, would like casino facilities and casinos themselves, in addition to being a family resort. Both, I believe, are possible."