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BLACKPOOL still holds the ace in the battle to build the UK's first super-casino.
Those behind the town's bid believe if the multi-million pound race hinges on regeneration, then the nation's favourite seaside resort is still ahead of its rivals.
Such claims come after results from The Casino Advisory Panel's (CAP's) initial study of the runners and riders placed Blackpool behind the Millennium Dome and Glasgow.
The Panel, which is now examining all the shortlisted bids before it makes its recommendation to the Government later this year, published its findings yesterday.
While Blackpool - the long-time bookies' favourite to win the coveted one-and-only super-casino licence – was third on overall scoring, in the key category of "need for regeneration" the resort was the only one of the eight rival towns and cities to score an impressive nine out of 10. Right from the start of the process to introduce Las Vegas-style gambling to the UK, the Government has emphasised the need to use the legislation as a "tool for regeneration".
The much-heralded regenerative benefits a massive super-casino would bring are the cornerstone of Blackpool's £1.4bn masterplan.
Alan Cavill, (above) Blackpool's head of corporate policy and development, said: "The importance of the different categories has not been weighted, but we believe if they had been Blackpool would not have been in third place, but would have been higher.
"When the Government announced the legislation, it said the primary considerations would be safety and the need for regeneration."
Mr Cavill said the council would now concentrate on improving its scores in the other categories.
Eight criteria in the first round of judging were: Social impact, need for regeneration, willingness to licence, probability of implementation, regional context, community benefits, unique characteristics and range of areas fro development.
The scores, which helped the CAP reduce the number of the bidding towns and cities from 27, show Manchester – Blackpool's only North West rivals for the licence – only just scraped into the last eight shortlisted destinations with 57 points.
Blackpool South MP Gordon Marsden said: "This is a very early stage snapshot so not too much can be read into it. The panel has not made any visits to any of the sites so far.
"It's important Blackpool has scored so well in the 'need for regeneration' category. I believe the regeneration aspect will be a critical factor in deciding where the first regional casino goes."
Fylde MP Michael Jack said: "I still believe in regeneration terms Blackpool has a very good case."
According to the CAP scores, Blackpool fell short in the categories of 'unique characteristics' and 'range of areas'.
The latter refers to how well it would stand up as a pilot project and to the fact that only the Central Station site is being proposed.
Surprisingly, Blackpool received only eight points for 'regional context' even though its plan is backed by the North West Regional Development Agency and the North West Regional Assembly.
Greenwich scored higher in the 'range of areas' category although it is also proposing only one site, the Millennium Dome.
But in terms of 'community benefits', 'probability of implementation' and 'willingness to licence', Blackpool was marked favourably.
The CAP was keen to stress the next stage of judging would start on a "level playing field," unaffected by the initial first round scores.
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