THE Prime Minister has been quizzed over massive new casino reforms - and cited Blackpool as an area that stands to benefit.

Tony Blair was asked at his monthly press conference on Monday who 'wanted' new casinos, apart from US casino firms.

He said: "Go and talk to the people in Blackpool who urgently need the regeneration.

"For many of these places this is a chance to put it on a proper modern footing."

The resort has been at the centre of calls for changes to gaming laws, and, in the past couple of weeks, two senior council executives have warned that the resort will 'continue to decline' without the investment casinos will bring.

The Council wants to see a 'cluster' of large casino hotels on the former Central Station site and in the Rigby Road area. The Winter Gardens and the Pleasure Beach are also possible venues for casino development.

A change in the law is a prerequisite for any such development. But - so far - Government ministers have been forced to defend the reforms against growing opposition to the bill as it stands.

Both main opposition parties are lining up against the most controversial aspects of the bill, and both have tabled amendments declining to give the bill a second reading, which is due to take place on Monday.

The Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives have both opposed aspects of the bill which, they say, will lead to an unchecked expansion of massive casinos.

And newspaper reports at the weekend, so far unconfirmed, suggested that Mr Blair and Culture Secretary, Tessa Jowell, had come under pressure to water down the reforms from cabinet colleagues.