THE Government last night tried to head off a potentially damaging rebellion by its own MPs by promising people a veto over any proposed Las Vegas-style casinos.

Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell pledged to strengthen the controversial Gambling Bill to place a "duty to consult" on councils.

But last night Ms Jowell was continuing to refuse to meet a backbench demand for a strict cap on the number of so-called super-casinos, insisting that it would prevent local decision-making.

As a result, more than 20 Labour MPs were expected to join Conservatives and Liberal Democrats in voting against the Bill, because of fears it will increase gambling addiction and debt.

Tony Blair also faced the embarrassment of a mass stay-away by Labour MPs who were expected to abstain.

Surprise support for the view that addiction would arise from the move came last night from Nick Malone, the director of Bannatyne's Casino, which will open in Newcastle in February.

Mr Malone agreed that the Government's motivation in opening the door to large casinos with unlimited jackpots was to raise taxes, rather than to regenerate poorer areas.

Ms Jowell was given a rough ride as she opened the debate on the second reading of the Bill, saying: "There will be no new casinos if local people don't want new casinos."

She said a "triple lock" would require any would-be casino operator to win approval from the Gambling Commission and both the local authority's licensing and planning departments.

Even if a local council did not want to ban all casinos, it could still outlaw a development if it was too close to a residential area or a school, she said.

A clause in the Bill would prevent casinos opening "by the back door", through the conversion of an existing leisure facility, such as a swimming pool or cinema.

Senior backbencher Donald Anderson was among Labour MPs who voiced doubts, demanding pilot schemes to test Ms Jowell's view that the super-casinos were no threat.

Ms Jowell said 90 per cent of the Bill would introduce tougher regulation, including the removal of slot machines from places where children could get hooked on them.

Tory spokesman John Whittingdale said there were no powers in the Bill to limit the number of large casinos to 40, the Government's prediction.

He demanded a curb on the number of machines offering unlimited pay-outs.

Speaking to The Northern Echo, Mr Malone said pub slot machines, rather than large casinos, offered a greater threat of gambling addiction.

But he admitted: "We will get an increase in problem gambling, although the ratio compared to the overall number of gamblers will stay the same."

Asked what the benefits of more casinos were, Mr Malone said: "It will mean a lot more money for the Exchequer."

The Newcastle scheme, as well as proposals for casinos in Middlesbrough, Sunderland and Scarborough, is separate to the super-casino proposals in the Gambling Bill.

However, it would benefit from the Bill's intention to allow round-the-clock opening and abolish the requirement for membership to be taken out 24 hours before entry