The decision has surprised everyone who has been following the selection process, with the general consensus being that London would receive the license, not least because construction had already started on the millennium dome site while AEG entertainment had been advertising job vacancies to work in the London casino.

The Manchester bid, which was a 16-1 outsider for the super casino license, was considered a good place to test the social impact of super casinos, while its catchment area was “second only to London”.

The bid’s organisers promised £265 million of investment in the deprived Beswick area where the casino would be located, saying 2,700 direct and indirect jobs will be created by the development.

The casino will host 1,250 unlimited jackpot fruit machines as well as table games such as blackjack, roulette, poker, craps and many others.