THE door will be kept open for a casino to be built in York if councillors agree to reject an outright ban on a large-scale gambling venue.

Members of a council licensing committee blocked a "no casino" motion at a meeting earlier this month, and now the decision is set to be backed by the ruling executive.

A report to the City of York Council executive meeting on Tuesday recommends leading councillors rubber-stamp the plan to keep their options open.

Don Robinson, the Scarborough-based businessman who has floated the idea of building a £5 million complex at Clifton Moor, said he welcomed the move to postpone any final decision.

He said: "I think it is good news and shows forward thinking by the council and executive. I am very pleased that they have made the decision to keep the door open.

"I hope sometime in the future we can get this asset for York. This shows the council are looking after the interests of taxpayers."

Neil Horwell, one of four men behind an £8 million proposal to bring a casino, club and restaurant complex to Mansfield Street, off Foss Islands Road, said a gambling venue would benefit the city.

He has teamed up with his brother Lee Horwell, of Horwell Brothers scrap and coal merchants, in Mansfield Street and brothers Paul and George Pavlou, who run the Vudu Lounge club, in Swinegate.

He said: "It is the first step on a large ladder. Some people have been saying we do not need a casino, but people have got a perfect right to have a little punt.

"The idea we are proposing is not just a casino, there will be bars and restaurants. It is what the people of York would like.

"We are all from the city and we will be putting our money where my mouth is."

The final decision on whether to ban casinos from York will be made at a full council meeting on November 30.

Coun Ken King, who spoke against the "no casino" motion, said: "Nothing is going to happen for a few years and all we have done is left the door open.

"Should the council decide that it wants a casino I would welcome one.

"There are mixed feelings on the council, but I would expect the majority of people would favour keeping our options open."

But Coun Andrew Waller said he would back any new bid to rule out bringing a casino the city, saying: "I would be supportive of a move to have the no casinos' policy.

"What will come to executive will still leave the door open but it is only relevant if the Government opens the floodgates."