Glasgow, Newcastle, Cardiff and Sheffield were also in the running to host a casino with a licence to run up to 1,250 gaming machines with unlimited jackpots, Sky News reported.

The announcement will have a positive knock-on effect for other enterprises in the area, because the casino licence also includes the rights for new hotels, restaurants, bars, conference facilities and live entertainment areas.

The giant casino, which will occupy a minimum space of 5,000 sq m, will be the only one of this size to be licensed in the UK.

The Casino Advisory Panel also revealed the venues that will be licensed for a number of large and small casinos.