BEIJING, July 6 (Xinhuanet) -- British deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, said he will not quit despite growing pressure over his contacts with an American billionaire who hopes to open a casino in London.

    "I am deputy prime minister and I am expecting to get a Christmas card from Tony Blair as such," he was reported as saying by the BBC late on Wednesday.

    Prescott is being investigated by Parliament's anti-sleaze watchdog, Sir Philip Mawer, over his stay at the Colorado ranch of the billionaire Philip Anschutz a year ago.

    He is said to have stayed at a ranch owned by U.S. oil and entertainment mogul Philip Anschutz, who wants to turn London's Millennium Dome into a casino.

    The UK newspaper Guardian revealed that the Deputy Prime Minister's officials requested updates on the casino application and pressed ministers in the department responsible for gambling to meet executives at Anschutz's company AEG.

    Tony Blair Wednesday pledged his support to his deputy. He wants to avoid a contest for the deputy leadership of the Labour Party, which would put the question of when he will stand down as Prime Minister firmly in the spotlight.

    The latest revelations about Prescott follow months of allegations of sleaze and mismanagement in Blair's government. Prescott also embarrassed his boss by having an affair with his secretary.

    Conservatives have called on the government to make a full statement to parliament on Prescott's visits to the United States.

    Conservative Shadow Secretary for Culture, Media and Sport Hugo Swire said the Labour policy was "being driven by big business, not the public interest."  Enditem

    (Agencies)