A DCMS spokeswoman said that the fact Parliament was on an Easter break until the middle of this month - combined with the start of `purdah’ ahead of the May 3 poll - meant any progress was impossible.
Manchester was selected as the site of Britain’s first supercasino, with more than 1,000 unlimited-jackpot slot machines, by an independent panel earlier this year.
But while the Commons backed the proposal, it was voted down by a majority of just three in the Lords last month. Both Houses must agree before the casino, which could bring nearly 3,000 jobs to Sportcity, can go ahead.