Manchester United yesterday confirmed it is in talks over the possibility of building a super casino at Old Trafford.
The club has been approached by a United States-based casino operator to sound out the idea of bidding to win the right to build one of the controversial new giant gambling venues.
The casino operator is believed to be Las Vegas Sands, according to sources, which owns the Venetian Hotel on the Las Vegas strip.
A new casino at Old Trafford could house up to 1,250 slot machines with unlimited stake and prize money, under Government plans to liberalise the gambling laws.
The casino firm would see Manchester United's brand, huge fan-base and 67,000 home game regulars as a prime ingredients for a new outlet.
The club has played down the possibility of a Las Vegas-style casino being built at the Theatre of Dreams.
Any prospective new development would be "years away", even if it got the go-ahead, the club said.
Director of communications Phil Townsend said: "We are at a very, very early stage, simply investigating as to whether there is a commercial opportunity to site a casino should the legislation go through.
"We are at the very start, no deal has been signed. It is a very, very preliminary discussion."
A casino company would probably rent a piece of land from the club on which to build a casino on. It would not be attached to the stadium.
Currently there are two categories of casinos, small and large.
Under a new Gambling Bill, which has not yet become law, the British government plans to allow a third category of "regional" casinos which have a minimum size of 5,000 square metres.
Ministers will allow the building of only eight super casinos in the UK in the first instance.
Other football clubs showing an interest in bidding for one of the licences include United's rivals Manchester City and Sheffield United.
The British government believes casinos could help to regenerate run-down areas and boost local economies.
They say gambling addicts will be protected but the plans have met with fierce opposition.
