The odds are now stacked against casino operators opening premises in Wandsworth after the council drafted a gambling policy banning them from coming to the borough.

Legislation, in the form of the Gambling Act 2005, handed local authorities new powers over gambling premises and last week the council drafted its statement on gambling policy which will influence its licensing decisions on gaming venues for the next three years.

A proposed borough-wide ban on casinos was included in the document with licensing bosses deciding not to gamble with Wandsworth's residential make-up.

Stewart Finn, chairman of Wandsworth Council's licensing committee, said: "Wandsworth is a wonderfully diverse borough with its popular residential areas served by five town centres each with its own character.

"It is dificult to see how a policy of allowing new casino venues in any one of the centres would improve the attractiveness of the leisure facilities in these areas."

But not everyone is happy with the move, which could bring money and jobs into the borough, as well as allowing residents the chance to go a local casino, rather than having to travel to other parts of the capital.

Ian Freeman of Balham High Road responded angrily: "This is typical of the inward-looking, up-its-own-arse attitude of the planners. While content to let pound shops and amusement arcades open on every other corner, a venture such as a casino - something that will bring an element of style to the area - is outlawed."

Warwick Bartlett, lead partner of Global Betting and Gambling consultants, an international consultancy group on all gambling issues, said: "Everybody likes a flutter whether it is in the bookies, on the National Lottery or just playing cards with friends, so to make the borough a no-go area for casinos means they are not really looking at what the electorate wants.

"A large casino would have significant regeneration capapbilities as they do employ a lot of people.

"To say you are not interested in casinos without looking at the effects is a rather short term view."

But the Salvation Army welcomed the council's stance. A spokesman said: "The Salvation Army has long been concerned that, as the number of gambling opportunities increase, it is likely this will lead to a rise in problem gambling and addiction.

"We would welcome initiatives aimed at helping people to understand the problems that can result from gambling addiction and to limit the number of gambling opportunities."

The act covers all types of gambling such as betting shops, fruit machines and premises like pubs and bingo halls.

Under the act, one "super-casino", eight large and eight small casinos can be built somewhere in the UK.

After Wandsworth Council's decision it will be left to places such as Greenwich and Brent to decide whether they want casinos.

The Millennium Dome is one of the favourites to be home to a supercasino.

Apart from casinos, the Gambling Act is likely to have the most significant impact on the 46 non-licensed premises in the borough, such as take-away restaurants, which house fruit machines.

New controls introduced by the act mean all will have to remove their machines over the next three years and no new applications to own fruit machines will be considered.

The council is consulting on its draft statement until October 11.

The finalised version will be settled at the full council meeting on December 13. By law the statement needs to be published by January 3.