Officials behind the campaign to get proposals for a Midland super casino back on the national shortlist said they received a boost yesterday when they were given an extended deadline to submit details of the bid.
The decision by the Casino Advisory Panel to push back the deadline proved that plans to revive proposals for a super casino at the National Exhibition Centre were being taken seriously, Birmingham City Council's cabinet member for regeneration said.
Coun Ken Hardeman's comments follow the CAP announcing an extended deadline for bid teams who did not make the original national shortlist to re-submit "fresh written evidence".
The CAP, which will recommend to the Government its favoured location for a new super casino by the end of the year, has announced revised bids have up until August 14 to submit evidence.
The previous deadline of June 28 saw a handful of bid teams submit fresh evidence - including Solihull/Birmingham team, which aims to build a Las Vegas-style destination at the NEC.
However, Coun Hardeman (Con Brandwood) said the extended period gives officials behind the bid more time to decide if further evidence needs to be submitted.
He said: "I suppose this indicates that the body is taking serious consideration of the fresh evidence it is receiving.
"It is good news that they are listening."
CAP chairman Professor Stephen Crow said: "Having taken into account the wider public interest and the need to ensure there is a level playing field between all authorities, the panel has decided to announce an additional period within which further submissions may be made by local authorities."
Meanwhile, figures released by the CAP yesterday showed that the Birmingham/Solihull scheme was only four points off being included in the shortlist of proposed venues.
Greenwich came top of the super casino shortlist with 67 points followed by Glasgow, Blackpool, Sheffield, Brent and Newcastle. Cardiff and Manchester polled the least amount of points out of the eight with 57.
The NEC scheme narrowly failed to make the shortlist with 53 points and Coventry was one place behind on 51.
