The government has confirmed plans for 16 regional casinos, while officially scrapping the supercasino which had been planned for Manchester.
Culture secretary Andy Burnham confirmed the smaller projects in a statement to MPs, while repeating the prime minister's view that supercasinos are not the best way to regenerate run-down areas.
Communities secretary Hazel Blears, also outlined an alternative package to help the area of Manchester which had anticipated benefiting from the scheme.
Blears said the government's review had highlighted the difficulty in establishing evidence for the benefits casinos bring to an area in general.
It particularly raised "uncertainties" about the scale of associated job creation, adding there was more chance of jobs going to outsiders, rather than locals, with casinos than other potential projects.
"Finally, the review concludes that, as with most regeneration projects, there are economic and social costs associated with casino-led regeneration.
"In the case of a regional casino, there are potentially significant costs that would arise as a result of an increase in compulsive gambling," Blears said.
Casinos with up to 150 slot machines and prizes of up to £4,000 are expected for Leeds, Southampton, Great Yarmouth, Middlesbrough, Solihull, Hull, Milton Keynes and Newham in London.
Smaller sites are also expected for Somerset, Dumfries and Galloway, Scarborough, Wolverhampton, Swansea, Luton, Torbay and East Lidsey.
Shadow culture secretary Jeremy Hunt said: "After seven months of dithering, the government's gambling policy is in a mess.
"The original decision on the supercasino now appears to be nothing more than headlines as the government has pretty much nothing in the cupboard to tackle the growing social evil of problem gambling.
"When will the government understand this is not about the size of the casino, but the underlying protections put in place to prevent and treat a social disorder that breaks up families?"
