Two more British resorts have joined the clamour to open casinos predicting the relaxing of gambling laws.

They are the latest in a string of news reports about ‘Vegas arriving' in British cities.

Stanley Leisure's biggest casino is to be built in Birmingham, according to icbirmingham news website.

Clacton, an English seaside resort, has received its first planning application for a casino from a family who have run a business in the resort for almost 40 years.

Stanley Leisure said it had been granted an application to create the casino, at Birmingham's Star City complex.

It expects the new casino will be open in summer 2003, would have 40 gaming tables, and will employ more than 200 staff.

The site will be named Stanley Star City Casino and it will be the UK's largest casino, Stanley said.

Over in Clacton, Essex, Andreas Mina and his sons Steve and Nick want to revamp the Criterion Restaurant in Marine Parade West on the seafront.

The family wants to invest more than £1 million into the restaurant to create a casino, restaurant, club and hotel.

They believe roulette, baccarat, craps, and poker would draw in a new type of tourist to the town and help with its revitalisation.

Steve Mina, said: 'Something needs to be done in Clacton to get a new type of market in, something that can be run for 52 weeks a year and not just in the summer season.