Vegas gambles on Celine

The curtain is about to rise on a £120million-plus gamble which could make or break Las Vegas.

Casino bosses hope a spectacular, Broadway-style musical starring Celine Dion will pull in the crowds and save the gaming metropolis.

The Canadian diva, who has signed a £63million contract, will perform in a £60million, 4,000-seat Coliseum created at Caesars Palace.

The show, which opens next Monday, cost £19million, including £4million for the world's largest LED screen. Vegas is failing to pull in the crowds because of the boom in betting websites. Now, casino bosses need family audiences.

Dion, whose hits include My Heart Will Go On, will perform five times a week, 40 weeks a year, for at least three years.

The 34-year-old, with album sales of 150million, said: 'This show marks a turning point.'

Tickets for the musical, A New Day..., cost up to £125 each. More than 200,000 of 240,000 seats for the first 60 shows have already been sold.