Ministers could be forced to reduce from eight the number of regional "super-casinos" allowed by the gambling bill to get the controversial legislation through the Lords in the dying days of this parliament. But Tony Blair would rather lose the bill than axe the proposal altogether, say government insiders.
"This is an all or nothing bill . . . there is no question of having a regulatory bill now and a new bill in the next parliament," a Labour official said. The Tories do not want to lose the bill altogether - risking considerable business wrath - but still hope to halve the cap on super-casinos to four.
