A future Blackpool super casino will be hit with an extra £6 million per year tax bill, it was confirmed yesterday (Wednesday).

The small print of Gordon Brown's tenth budget confirmed earlier reports that operators will have to pay £5,000 annually for each of the 1,250 unlimited jackpot slot machines in the one resort casino which will be allowed under the new gambling act.

At the other end of the scale, Blackpool's pinball and video game machines will be exempt from amusement machine license duty (AMLD) altogether.

Blackpool South MP, Gordon Marsden, said: "The guiding principle I've always argued for is that people who are gambling largely for amusement or for a small prize such as a toy or a bar of chocolate should not be treated as if they are a large casino. This will help to maintain Blackpool's family arcade tradition."

The new charges were, Mr Marsden added, in line with those suggested when the gambling bill was being proposed.

The changes, which did not form part of Mr Brown's budget speech, are said to more closely align' the AMLD with the new categories of gaming machine identified.

Potential developers have consistently said that any large investment in the UK would rely on cutting the current 40 per cent tax on gambling to 15 or 20 per cent.

That did not happen in this budget and by next year's budget the council which wins the golden ticket' regional casino license is expected to be inviting formal tenders from potential operators.

Mr Marsden picked out three main plusses for Blackpool from the budget an increase in the amount of money to be sent directly to secondary schools, an extension of free national bus travel and a decision to allow free further education up to A-level standard for people up to the age of 25.

l A Blackpool Council meeting was expected to formally agree to bid for a casino licence at its meeting yesterday (Wednesday). A decision is expected at the end of this year.