Bets are off on gaming bill

Contractors that hedged their bets on the government reforming UK gaming laws allowing the construction of Las Vegas-style casino resorts have been left high and dry.

Last spring culture secretary Tessa Jowell announced the UK's gaming laws would be reviewed. Casino operators and contractors hoped the review would lead to a relaxation of the law, leading to a building boom in casino hotels. However it emerged yesterday that the review will not make it into the Queen's Speech this autumn.

Officials at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport said the delay was due to a busy parliamentary timetable. Assuming the review makes it into the Queen's Speech in 2004, any changes to the law could not be enacted until 2005/06.

When Jowell announced the proposed review last year, Leisure Parcs unveiled its plans for £150m Vegas-style casino hotel in Blackpool.