Hopes fade for £2 stake on betting machines

MINISTERS faced a backlash last night over a long-awaited review of ‘crack cocaine’ betting machines.

Campaigners had hoped the Government would cut the maximum £100 stake on fixed-odds betting terminals to only £2.

Instead, it merely recommended £2 as one of a series of options for a consultation.

This could see the stake on the machines, found mainly in bookies’ shops, remain as high as £50. Bookmakers’ shares rose after the announcement.

The machines have been blamed for fuelling addiction. Campaign groups criticised ministers and insisted the maximum stake must be cut to £2.

The terminals generate £1.8billion a year for bookies.

In the policy paper, Culture Minister Tracey Crouch said the Government ‘wants a healthy gambling industry’.

The document claims a reduction to £2 would cost the industry nearly £639million.

It proposes a series of other measures to protect gambling addicts, including slower play.

Simon Blackburn, of the Local Government Association, said: ‘There is credible evidence that these machines can harm vulnerable players.’

Malcolm George, of the Association of British Bookmakers, told BBC Breakfast cutting the £100 stake to £2 would not ‘necessarily’ help problem gamblers. ‘If you put sufficient checks in, the £100 is fine,’ he said.

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