Gambling total soars Anger over betting shop machines

Gamblers pumped £ 21.8million into fixed- odds betting terminals at bookies across West Lothian last year – £ 1.7m more than the previous year.

The figures from Campaign for Fairer Gambling show that punters lost over £5.4 min 2016 alone placing bets at the 132 FOBT machines in 35 betting shops in the area.

Between 2008 and 2016, gamblers have found themselves out of pocket by over £37million on the machines which have been dubbed the crack cocaine of gambling.

There have now been calls for the UK Government to restrict use of FOBT machines when they respond to a review on them in October.

A Campaign for Fairer Gambling spokesperson said: “These figures reveal the shocking scale of the havoc FOBTs are causing on Britain’s high streets. The bizarre experiment to allow high stakes casino gambling in betting shops has failed, causing significant harm to individuals, families and communities.

“Enough is enough. The government must commit to reducing the maximum stake on FOBTs to £2 a spin when they respond to the review in October.”

Angela Constance, SNP MSP for Almond Valley, has also called on the UK Government to tackle the FOBT problem by reducing the numbers allowed in betting shops, limiting the stakes that can be bet and reducing the time that can be spent on the machine.

Ms Constance said: “These are incredibly concerning figures – and show that the Tory government cannot continue to ignore this issue that is having such a negative impact on our communities.

Calls on tougher measures were echoed by Neil Findlay, Labour MSP for Lothian, who said: “The Scottish Parliament should act to prevent people being able to lose these amounts of money so quickly. We need legislation.”

Damian Timson, leader of the Conservative Group in West Lothian, said: “The figures involved in FOBT are increasing to levels that are of a concern and whilst the ability to enjoy this form of gaming is an individual’s choice, like all forms of gambling, it is to be enjoyed responsibily and within limits a person can afford.”

However a spokesperson for ABB Scotland, the trade body for most high street betting shops, said that 99 per cent of their customers gamble “harm free”.

They said: “FOBTs account for only 13 per cent of gambling spend in the UK. Gamblers spend seven times more money on other forms of gambling, often in venues such as pubs and arcades that lack the tight controls and trained staff there are in betting shops. “