Minister in new casino climbdown

Critics fear a rise in the number of problem gamblers

Tessa Jowell will next week announce plans to limit the number of new medium and small casinos to 16, the BBC has learned.

The culture secretary has already cut plans for 40 regional super-casinos to eight following a backbench outcry.

She is expected to amend the Gambling Bill, currently in its committee stage, to limit the total number of new casinos in all categories to 24.

The move is being welcomed by church leaders who fear an explosion in problem gambling.

Ms Jowell told Labour MPs last month only eight Las Vegas-style super-casinos will now be allowed to open initially.

But the move prompted fears of an explosion in small and medium size venues instead - and these are now expected to be limited to eight in each category.

BBC Political Correspondent James Hardy said the total expansion in casinos in the UK would be far smaller than originally envisaged, representing a major climbdown for the government.