A North-East football club is aiming to hit the jackpot by turning its stadium shop into a casino and building a sports megastore inside the ground.

Last month, Newcastle United unveiled plans to build a £150m hotel and gaming complex on land next to St James' Park in partnership with US company MGM Mirage.

The club and the Las Vegas firm are waiting for the Government to deregulate the gambling laws before pressing ahead.

The Department of Culture has already launched a draft bill to change the legislation and the Magpies are ready to transform their shop into a casino as an interim measure, as soon as they get permission.

Sources have also revealed that the club is planning to build an Adidas megastore inside the Gallowgate end of the ground.

Last week, Newcastle signed a new deal with the kit suppliers worth up to £25m over five years.

The agreement - signed three and a half years ahead of the end of their current deal - extends the brand's association with Newcastle to 17 years.

The Toon's link-up with the sports firm has also been instrumental in plans by Hollywood movie moguls to include the Magpies in a forthcoming film.

Producers want to base the first movie on United with the trilogy's second and third parts based on Real Madrid and Argentina, both of which are also supplied by Adidas.

No one at Newcastle United was prepared to comment.