Sheffield Council is fighting to build a controversial resort-style casino that could bring 2,000 jobs to the city.
So far three separate bids have been made, including one by the Las Vegas Sands group at Bramall Lane.
If it goes ahead it is hoped it will secure the future of the historic club, as well as helping the surrounding Sharrow and Sheaf Valley areas.
However, the group yesterday announced plans for a similar casino venture beside Manchester United's Old Trafford stadium.
Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell has already been forced to massively scale down plans for a number of casinos to be built throughout the UK, because of the scale of opposition, and in an effort to squeeze legislation through before last week's General Election.
It is widely assumed that Blackpool will be handed the one licence already on offer, with other areas left to wait and see whether the original plans are changed in the new session of Parliament.
Manchester City have also outlined plans for a casino at the club's Eastlands football stadium and now their Old Trafford rivals are putting forward a forceful case, citing regeneration of nearby Salford Quays to support their argument.
If Manchester wins, it could have a serious knock-on effect for the Blades.
But last night a spokeswoman for Las Vegas Sands said the new bid "did in no way mean they were any less interested" in Sheffield.
"The Bramall Lane project has huge meaning to us and we are not favouring either of these over the other. However things are still very much up in the air as to where the casinos are going to be built."
She added it was important the company had plans in other cities, in case Sheffield was unsuccessful.
But she did warn Sheffield would have to fight for its chance to host one of the eight mega-casinos.
The Gambling Bill changed the number of regional casinos from 40 to eight.
Sheffield now needs to promote itself as being a major leisure venue, and a resort casino would be part of that leisure offer.
In Sheffield plans have also been put forward by MGM Mirage for a site near Meadowhall, while Sun International has unveiled plans at Don Valley Stadium.
All could land the city more than £100m of private sector investment.
It was initially thought rival developers would face a battle among themselves but an eleventh hour Government U-turn has meant the city must first win the battle to host such a casino.
A spokesman for Sheffield United last night said they were confident the plans would still come to fruition.
Manchester United announced yesterday it was applying to the Government for a licence to build a casino on land close to Old Trafford.
The development with Las Vegas Sands would include a five-star hotel, restaurants, health club, and sports bar.
emma.dunlop@ypn.co.uk