LONDON-The UK government has caved in to opposition pressure and agreed to allow only one super-casino to be built under the new gambling legislation. Ministers were forced to make the concession in order to ensure they could get the legislation on the statute books before parliament is dissolved for a month-long election campaign. With Tony Blair calling an election a year before he would have been forced to, ministers have run out of time to get their controversial gambling reforms through parliament.

The industry had already resigned itself to a cut in the number of casinos from the 24 originally envisioned to eight, forced on the government during the passage of the bill. The latest cut follows an parliamentary agreement with the opposition to ensure the Conservatives do not oppose the bill's progress. The government has reserved the right to increase the number of regional casinos in the next parliament, should it win the election, although any rise would require a parliamentary vote.

At this stage it is unclear which location will be the winner, but industry analysts believe the most likely beneficiary will be Blackpool. This means plans for "regional" casinos at locations including the Millennium Dome and the new Wembley stadium are likely to loose out.

Tessa Jowell, the culture secretary, whose department has overseen the bill's progress, sounded a defiant note. "Protecting the public, and children in particular, has always been my top priority during the five years of debate about this bill," she said in Parliament. "So I am delighted we can now set up the Gambling Commission and ensure that Britain has the most robust framework of gambling regulation in the world."

"Its location should be a leisure resort where the regeneration potential is greatest," added John Whittingdale, shadow culture secretary. "The case for locating such a casino in Blackpool is very strong."