As reported by: This is London
A Las Vegas tycoon plans to cash in on changes to UK gambling laws by opening casinos at Premiership grounds.

Gaming magnate Sheldon G Adelson has already approached several top clubs, including Chelsea and Arsenal, to discuss the idea.

The casinos would be huge, taking up around 30,000 square feet, and could make clubs as much as £15million a year through a profitshare.

Newcastle, Manchester City, Birmingham, Middlesbrough, Portsmouth, Everton and Leicester have also been contacted by Adelson, who is chairman of Las Vegas Sands Inc and founder of the £1bn Venetian hotel and casino complex.

Arsenal have already rejected the idea because the casino will take up too much room at their new Ashburton Grove stadium, but other clubs are more interested.

Portsmouth chairman Milan Mandaric said: "There are discussions going on, but it is very early days. We are supposed to be getting together in the middle of August for more talks.

"This American casino company are looking to do things on a big scale. It will be great to have them here.

Six or seven weeks ago they approached my chief executive Peter Storrie and it seems they want to move into football." A rival company, MGM Mirage, the world's largest gaming group, has already talked to Manchester United about setting up a themed casino.

The proposals hinge on planned changes to UK law which will make casinos far more accessible.

The new legislation, which has not yet passed through parliament, will allow them to operate 24 hours-a-day and remove membersonly restrictions.

If the politicians and clubs give the go-ahead, there could be casinos in English grounds within two years. Adelson, who is worth around £860m, built the lavish Venetian hotel in Las Vegas four years ago.

It is based on a Venice theme and features canals, gondolas, Italian walkways and a replica of St Mark's Square.