There are fears of increased prostitution as a result of the casino

It comes after it was chosen as one of the eight UK locations earmarked to be licensed to operate a small casino.

Wigtownshire Women's Aid co-ordinator Hazel Madden said she feared it would cause more referrals to her group.

Dumfries and Galloway MP Russell Brown said he believed that internet gambling presented a greater danger.

Stranraer was the only Scottish bid recommended for the go-ahead by the Casino Advisory Panel.

When the casino does come here there will be money and I fear that some women may be driven to prostitution or come here as prostitutes Hazel Madden Wigtownshire Women's Aid

The Scottish parliament will be consulted before the proposals go to the UK Secretary of State for Culture for final approval.

The small-scale casino licence allows for up to 80 gaming machines with a maximum payout of �4,000.

Ms Madden said she feared her organisation would be left to pick up the pieces if the plan went ahead.

"I think there will be increasing debts in the area," she said.

"There will be relationship breakdowns when people go to the casino and it causes problems financially.

"When the casino does come here there will be money and I fear that some women may be driven to prostitution or come here as prostitutes."

'Really optimistic'

Dumfries and Galloway MP Russell Brown said he believed the social impact would not be as great as feared.

"I am not convinced that it is as big a problem as some people are portraying," he said.

"The big issue is undoubtedly internet gambling - that is the real thing that the government needs to tackle.