Greenwich council bosses have laid their cards on the table and given their backing to a new casino at the Millennium Dome.

The company which owns the Dome is set to apply for the licence which would bring the country's first super-casino to south-east London.

Now council bosses have given their seal of approval to the plans which could turn Greenwich into the gambling capital of England.

In April the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) announced a shake-up of gaming laws, under the Gambling Act 2005.

This included plans to grant a licence for one national super-casino and a further 16 smaller casinos in the UK.

If Greenwich gets the go-ahead it will beat applications from many other areas in the country to boast the super centre.

Dome owner the Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) wants the casino to form part of its revamp of the Greenwich attraction. This will see the Dome transformed into a major music and entertainment centre including a 23,000-capacity arena, 10-screen cinema and ice rink by early 2007.

Anschutz chief executive David Campbell said: "We are very pleased the council has expressed an interest in locating a casino in Greenwich.

"This is a long process but if Greenwich is selected the council will be able to grant a licence for a casino in the borough."

Interest group the Greenwich Society says it has "no ethical objections" to a new casino.

Society secretary Ray Smith said: "If we are talking about turning Greenwich into an entertainment hub then it is the ideal place for it.

"As long as it is properly run, a casino would be a good addition to the borough and could bring in a lot of money."

Greenwich Council agreed to "express an interest" in the casino with the DCMS at a cabinet meeting on December 20.

The DCMS is expected to decide on the location of the new casino in December 2006.