Supercasino site still wide open

The Casino Advisory Panel has rejected claims that it's unable to decide on the location of the UK's only regional casino.

Professor Stephen Crow, who heads the panel, told the Financial Times last week: "How are we going to make up our minds? I don't know."

But a spokeswoman for the panel said the quote was taken out of context.

"We've received 40 indications of interest but no formal applications yet. The comment refers to the fact that we don't know what shape the examination process will take."

Formal proposals have to be submitted by the end of March and the five-strong panel will send its final report to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in December.

It will base its decision on the regeneration potential of each area and its receptiveness to a regional casino. The spokeswoman denied that Blackpool was the frontrunner. "We have a completely open mind as to the outcome," she said.

Leeds, Glasgow, Blackpool, Maidstone and Sheffield have all shown interest in bidding for the supercasino.