A NORTH-EAST town is betting on becoming the home of the UK's first - and only - super casino.

It is understood a bid will be launched today to bring a Las Vegas-style gamblers' playground to Teesside, which could create as many as 2,000 jobs.

The site chosen is Middlesbrough's former docklands - renamed Middlehaven - the 250 acres of wasteland already set to be transformed in a £500m development scheme.

More than 2,400 houses, 80,000sq ft of commercial development and 500,000sq ft of leisure space are to be built on the site over 20 years.

And now, slotted in among this, could be a casino with up to 1,250 unlimited jackpot gaming machines.

Such a development could bring in an additional £150m investment on top of the £500m the scheme could represent in public and private investment.

Enthusiasm for the bid is shared by Middlesbrough Mayor Ray Mallon and Joe Docherty, chief executive of Tees Valley Regeneration.

But Mr Mallon will need to have the ice-cool nerves of a poker player, because Blackpool has already launched a bid to have the regional casino at the Lancashire resort, which is desperate to reverse a crash in tourism.

Glasgow and Manchester are also expected to bid for the super casino - the only one of its size which the Government says will be built in the UK, although smaller casinos will be allowed.

An independent panel has been appointed to advise the Government on the areas in which the new types of casino created by the Gambling Act should be located.

The panel will have to be persuaded by Middlesbrough officials that the Teesside town fits all the criteria.

It is understood that today's announcement of Middlesbrough's intention to bid will include the launch of a campaign to win widespread public support for the project.