The government is to reconsider its plans to introduce supercasinos in Britain.
Gordon Brown told MPs in this week's prime minister's questions that the proposals would be "subject to reflection over the next few months" after they were rejected by the House of Lords in March.
He admitted that the plans had proved controversial and said a report due in September examining the state of gambling in the UK would inform the government's thinking on the issue.
Mr Brown said regeneration might be a better way of meeting the "economic and social needs" of run-down areas of the country.
According to media reports these comments indicate the first suggestions that the Brown government has U-turned on its commitment to build supercasinos in Britain, after former prime minister Tony Blair's strong support for the idea.
The initiative attracted controversy when Manchester was chosen as the site for the first supercasino, ahead of pre-decision favourite Blackpool.
The House of Commons approved the secondary legislation by a majority of 24 but the Lords rejected the proposal by a narrow margin in the March 28th vote.
Former culture secretary Tessa Jowell said at the time she would "reflect on the outcome" of the vote, beginning a period of inactive consideration which Mr Brown has today indicated will continue until the autumn.
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