PRO-GAMBLING MP Janet Anderson hopes to see casinos in East Lancashire as a result of the relaxation of gambling laws.

At the moment, punters who wish to go to the gaming tables have to travel to Manchester or Blackpool to indulge their passion for roulette, blackjack or other games of chance.

But Rossendale and Darwen MP Mrs Anderson thinks this could all change when new legislation is brought in in 2006.

Then smaller casinos could spring up in Burnley, Blackburn or Accrington to cater for local gamblers and keep their money in the area.

And she hopes that any new casinos will result in associated new sports and leisure facilities to help regenerate rundown parts of the area.

Mrs Anderson sat on the joint committee of the House of Lords and House of Commons which considered the Draft Gambling Bill.

While it welcomed long overdue reform of the current law on gambling - which she said was in a mess - it called for some alterations to the proposals.

In particular, it wants proper definitions of small, large and giant Las Vegas-style "resort" casinos.

After evidence from Rileys, the pool and snooker hall operators based in Hapton, the committee agreed that the slot machines should remain in pubs, clubs, pool and snooker halls subject to restrictions on their availability to young people.

And the committee believes that in return for lifting the restriction on where casinos can be sited - currently mainly big cities and seaside resorts, ruling out East Lancashire - there should be a definite regeneration gain to the local environment and economy.

It said that new casinos should be in deprived areas and that the local authority licensing bill should be able to insist that the casino is linked to leisure, sport or other facilities for the benefit of local people.

Mrs Anderson said: "There are several important features of the report for local people. The most important thing for the North West is allowing the development of Las Vegas-style resort casinos in Blackpool."