THE House of Lords has given the final go ahead for Southampton to licence a Las Vegas style casino.

The Lords last night backed a Government order which will allow 8 authorities, including Southampton City Council, the right to award a licence for a large casino.

The council will now prepare an updated document setting out the requirements and safeguards it will expect from any new casino operator.

It has pledged a full public consultation on the revised policy, called the statement for gambling principles.

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Cabinet member for economic development, Councillor Royston Smith, said: "Let me assure residents that nothing will be decided on this until we have fully and openly consulted with the public and businesses in the city. We always said we would have a meaningful consultation and we intend to honour that pledge.

"We will use the outcome of any consultation to inform our decision."

The Government re-introduced its casino plans in February after the Lords last year threw out a legislation package that included a super-casino for Manchester.

The new large casinos will dwarf Britains' current biggest with up to 150 slot machines and £4,000 jackpots.

The council, which has earmarked the city's derelict Royal Pier as the preferred location for a new casino complex, estimates it would create 350 jobs and bring up to £11m into the local economy.