A campaign to block Las Vegas-style "mega casinos" could prevent a gaming resort coming to Brighton and Hove.

Hospitality and entertainment group Hilton suggested last month it was considering spending £200 million on a super-casino which could generate hundreds of jobs.

The Hilton group - which owns seafront hotels including the Metropole - has made clear any plans for a Brighton casino would be scrapped if the council failed to support the scheme.

The Green Party and Tories have now formed a coalition to block future plans for a gaming complex on Brighton seafront.

They are to present a motion to the city council asking for a unilateral ban on so-called megacinos.

Together the Tories and Greens have enough members to force policy through full council meetings even if the ruling Labour Party and Liberal Democrats disagree.

If the motion was successful the council's incoming chief executive would be instructed to write to the Government and city's MPs calling for the provisions liberalising gaming in the new Gambling Bill to be dropped.

But Labour council leader Ken Bodfish slammed the move as "premature and irresponsible" and said it would short-circuit a healthy democratic debate.

Green councillor Keith Taylor, who drafted the motion, said: "We cannot simply rule out megasinos for legal reasons but we can send a clear signal they are potentially damaging to the public good.

"Brighton and Hove is not suffering from a casino shortage - four venues already operate in the city.

"It just is not in the city's interest to increase the risks of drawing more people into gambling addiction.

"Certainly anyone with a loved one or family member who is a gambling addict already would be very worried at this prospect for Brighton and Hove.

"The council needs to set people's minds at rest at once."

Conservative leader Garry Peltzer Dunn said: "The Government's main consideration is financial gain.

"This is not right as they must also consider the possible cost - in relation to the effect on families affected by gambling addiction and the cost to the local environment should one of these giant developments occur in the city."

Gambling syndicates from the USA have reportedly been offering millions of pounds to councils in Britain in return for support getting planning permission.

The Tory and Green councillors claim the Bill would be the first step to transforming the city into a mini-Las Vegas.

But council leader Ken Bodfish said his Labour group would vote against the motion.

He said: "I have been to Las Vegas and I didn't like it. I know what Las Vegas is like and I don't want Brighton to become a mini version.

"I've never had a flutter on the tables or even bought a lottery ticket because I am not interested in gambling.

"I also have grave reservations about the proposed gaming legislation but we must remember it does also include more regulation.

"But these are my own personal views and may not chime with what residents in the city think.

"These are important and difficult issues which demand a much fuller discussion. You cannot lay down an edict by council without quite considerable consultation.

"The views of the councillors do not necessarily reflect the views of the city as a whole."

Councillor David Watkins, acting leader of the three-strong Lib Dem group, said his party was unlikely to support the motion.

He said: "I do not see any special need for more casinos, what we have is quite sufficient.

"But we can only rule things out once they have been proposed. There is no point saying no to ghosts.

"This is a bridge we can cross when we come to it."

The new Bill will allow 24-hour gambling in super-casinos, each with as many as 1,250 slot machines with jackpots of up to £1 million.

The motion proposed stops short of an all-out ban because this would allow prospective developers to appeal every planning decision.

The Green and Conservative councillors will present it to full council on November 25.