TURNING Blackpool into a Las Vegas-style resort could create 13,000 jobs.

Research carried out by Pion Economics, and published by Leisure Parcs, claims that 3,000 new jobs will immediately be created by a resort casino-hotel and the longer term development of six casinos in Blackpool would generate jobs for up to 13,000 people.

There are currently 6,000 unemployed people in the area.

Managing Director of Leisure Parcs Marc Etches said: "Clearly this is going to create a tremendous opportunity for the unemployed and underemployed, not just for Blackpool but reaching out to the wider region of the North West."

Each development, comprising a 1,000 bed hotel and 100,000 sq ft casino, would employ 2,000 staff all year round. Leisure Parcs, owner of Blackpool Tower and Circus, the resort's three piers, and several other leisure businesses, has proposed that the Government should allow the introduction of casinos into Blackpool as a pilot scheme.

A proportion of any tax revenue could be used to directly help in the regeneration of Blackpool.

Mr Etches described the Pion Economics report as an "economic analysis of the opportunity in Blackpool to create a world-class tourist destination using resort casino-hotel development as the economic engine to drive the renewal of our country's favorite seaside resort...we believe our proposals are capturing everyone's imagination."

The report also claims that around £78m a year would be injected into the North West economy as a result of the Blackpool resort casino and it says: "The proposed development will operate all year round, in contrast to the highly seasonal nature of much of the current tourism activity in Blackpool, and it is expected to be a catalyst for further social and economic renewal. Such a facility is not dependent on the sun for its success and is intended to enhance the traditional leisure attractions of Blackpool."