Scotland's first casino resort is expected to open in 2007

The local government committee backed a Sewel motion on Tuesday, effectively handing the decision to London.

The motion will allow MPs to take decisions on the UK's new Gambling Bill and how it will apply to Scotland.

But Deputy finance minister Tavish Scott said the Scottish Executive will still have to approve any plans to locate a casino north of the border.

Addiction fear

Under proposed legislation currently going through the Commons, there are plans to build eight resort casinos across the UK.

The venues will have a minimum floor area of 5,000 square metres and up to 1,250 slot machines.

The Scottish National Party and religious leaders had asked for them to be banned in Scotland amid claims that they will lead to a rise in gambling addiction.

Scottish ministers will have a wider range of controls under the new system than at present Tavish Scott Deputy finance minister

The committee voted by five to three in favour of passing the decision on to politicians in the House of Commons, effectively by-passing the input of MSPs.

But Mr Scott said this did not mean ministers in Scotland would lose control over the issue.

He said: "Scottish ministers will have a wider range of controls under the new system than at present.

"We can set a range of licence conditions within the new national framework, we can and want to play an active part in achieving the bill's overall aim of achieving increased social responsibility in this area in Scotland."

New powers

The government insists the bill, which proposes compulsory age checks on gambling websites, a new Gambling Commission to police the industry and a new offence of permitting child betting, will help protect the "weak and vulnerable" with better regulation.

Mr Scott said the proposed limit on the number of super-casinos that could be built in the UK to eight would last for three years, after which research would be undertaken to assess their effect.

The committee's recommendation is expected to be considered next week by the full parliament, which will make the decisive vote on the Sewel motion.

In July, it was revealed Scotland's first casino resort would be built in Glasgow as part of a �562m development on the banks of the River Clyde.

The redevelopment is set to take place on the site of the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre (SECC).