BLACKPOOL'S planned transformation into a Las Vegas-style casino resort was one step closer to reality this week.

A government review proposed radical changes to gambling laws which could end the limit on numbers of casinos allowed.

The review on gaming laws -- initiated by the government 18 months ago to investigate the mass of old and complicated gambling laws -- calls for removal of the limits on the number of casinos.

Casino operators would be able to open up where they liked -- once they had planning permission-- without the restriction of having to prove that there was a demand.

And casinos would be allowed to give unlimited jackpots on slot machines and provide 24-hour-a-day alcohol and live entertainment. Gambling debts would also become enforceable by law under the new rules.

The review's proposals were welcome news to Blackpool leisure bosses who have planned a £1 billion scheme for up to six Las Vegas-style casino hotels along the promenade. Plans for one of the casinos -- provisionally called Pharaoh's Palace -- has 1,000 bedrooms, a theatre, 80 gaming tables and 2,500 jackpot machines.

Leisure Parcs, owners of Blackpool Tower, the three piers and the Winter Gardens, has been lobbying the government for changes to the country's gaming laws. They said that they were delighted by the radical nature of the recommendations.

Marc Etches, Leisure Parcs managing director, said that the company was still examining the details of the report, but were pleased that the gambling review body supported the principal of casino hotels.

"We are particularly encouraged that the report makes specific reference to Leisure Parcs' vision for Blackpool.

"Blackpool has many unique qualities that we believe would make it the most appropriate location in the UK for the concept of resort casino hotels.

"Blackpool and the North West region have a once in a lifetime opportunity to create a world-class tourist destination using resort casino hotels development as the economic engine to drive the renewal of our country's favourite seaside resort."

The four or five star complexes, each comprising a 1,000 bed hotel and 100,000 square feet casino would employ 2,000 staff all year round.

A casino hotel would create 3,000 immediate jobs and the longer-term development of six hotels would bring another 13,000 jobs to Blackpool, according to research published this summer by Leisure Parcs.

But not everyone was delighted by the prospect of the extravagant casinos emerging all along the prom.

The Rev Tim Widdess, of Blackpool Central Methodist Church on Adelaide Street, said that the casino hotels were not a positive idea for Blackpool.

"If you build your economy on gambling it's not a very firm foundation. The only good it does is for the people building the casinos.

"The whole concept of casino hotels is to have self-contained buildings where people stay. Everything else will go on within the casino. People won't need to go outside for food and entertainment and so won't be bringing extra money to Blackpool in that way.

"The side effect of the casinos will be those who succumb to gambling addiction and they could also draw in peripheral crime to Blackpool and that's something we certainly don't need any more of," he said.

And Steven Bate, chair of Blackpool Liberal Democrats said: "It is the duty of Parliament to decide how gambling regulations should be updated. Local residents have yet to be offered facts from all available sources. Genuine open debates have yet to be organised. When are the local MPs going to seek out local views on this issue?"