Petition plea for action on gambling machines
THE Prime Minister has taken delivery of a petition from the East End calling for action on fixed odds gambling machines.
David Linden, Glasgow East SNP MP, handed in the petition to 10 Downing Street with hundreds of names from his constituency demanding the maximum stake be cut from £100 to £2.
A UK Government consultation on Fixed Odds Betting Terminals has ended which is seeking views on reducing stakes to between £2 and £50.
Mr Linden wants it to be the lowest amount to limit the losses in poorer communities like in the east end.
Studies have shown People in Glasgow lost more than £30m a year on the machines, four of which are permitted in each betting shop.
Glasgow has more than 800 of the machines across the more than 200 betting shops.
Mr Linden said: “Over the years, Glasgow’s East End has been saturated with bookmaker shops. They have led to the general decline in our local main streets and action is needed to tackle the scourge they bring to our communities.
“For too long, successive UK Governments have done little to tackle the problems associated with Fixed Odds Betting Terminals. Due to the wildly high stakes, gambling addictions have soared and over £35million has been frittered away on these terminals in j ust one year in Glasgow.”
The MP added: “I’ve taken this campaign from Baillieston Main Street to Downing Street to tell the Prime Minister to cut the stake to £2 to cut the harm caused to our communities.”
A spokesman for the Association of British Bookmakers said: “More than 30,000 customers in Scotland have signed a petition urging the UK Government not to put responsible bookies out of business t hrough f urther regulation.
“Gaming machines in betting shops account for only 13% of gambling spend but help support ,000 jobs in Scotland. A £2 stake would destroy the retail betting industry and put thousands of hard working staff in Scotland, including i n Mr Linden’s constituency, out of work while doing nothing to tackle problem gambling.
“The focus on these machines is disproportionate and risks undermining an industry which is leading the way in promoting responsible gambling.”