Dome Leads Casino Advisory Panel List

The Millennium Dome has managed to bag the top spot in the race to host Britain's first super casino despite the controversy surrounding its owner, Philip Anschutz, and Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott.

The ranking is based on a list that the Casino Advisory Panel recently came out with, that judged the eight short listed locations on eight different criteria.

The announcement has raised fresh questions over the hand that Prescott played in favor of the Greenwich bid. Prescott has been much berated over his close association with the American billionaire owner of the Dome.

The proposed venues were judged on areas including the following criteria: community benefits, social impact and need for regeneration.

The Millennium Dome bagged the first place with 67 points out of a possible 80, second place went to Glasgow with 66 points, followed by bookies' favorite Blackpool with 65, and Sheffield with 62. Not so strong contenders Brent and Newcastle both got 58 points, followed by Cardiff and Manchester with 57.

The Casino Advisory Panel includes senior planners and business leaders, and it says that following tests would not be affected by the results of this first. The panel is set to make a final recommendation on the casinos to the government by the end of the year.