Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
‘Crack coke’ bet machines ‘destroy jobs’
HIGH-STAKES gaming machines have led to a surge in gambling addiction and are costing tens of thousands of jobs, a thinktank report today warns.
It calls on the Government to slash the £100 maximum stake on fixedodds betting terminals found in high street betting shops to just £2.
Dubbed the “crack cocaine” of gambling, their numbers have risen from 20,000 in 2005 to 34,388.
The Respublica report says FOBTS hit jobs by sucking money out of economy. They also fuel poverty, domestic violence and family breakdown. It says 23,400 people lost jobs last year because of them.
Ministers are expected to launch moves to tackle gambling next week.
ON THEIR POSSIBLE ROMANCE
RUTH Langsford is to face the wrath of Strictly bosses after leaking a spoiler about this weekend’s results.
The TV host posted on Saturday night how she fared in the results show, which is recorded after the live broadcast but not shown until Sunday.
Ruth, 57, told fans she was through and thanked them for voting, but deleted the tweet when angry followers told her she had said too much.
One fan, Anne Norris, wrote: “This item should NOT be on social media it has spoiled the program for tonight surely the stars should have a ban on going public. I am not impressed Ruth !!!!! .”
Debbie Mcgee also tripped up last weekend by revealing Reverend Richard Coles had been voted off.
A BBC source said: “Bosses are not happy about these leaks as they want everyone to watch the Sunday night show. Ruth and Debbie will face the