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UK News

Gambling figures prompt renewed stake plea from Christian campaigners

Care wants the top amount which can be put on a fixed-odds betting terminal (FOBT) per go to be slashes from £100 to £2, amid fears FOBT's are particularly addictive.

The plea comes as the Gambling Commission stats for the twelve months to September 2016 show £5 million is being lost on them every day. The £1.8 billion figure marks a rise of £57 million compared with the twelve months to March 2016.

Reacting to the research, Care's policy officer Mark Baillie told Premier's News Hour: "It's deeply depressing to see the amount of money that is being spent on these machines continue to rise."

Lee Davy

The amount lost on FOBTs - which can allow players to stake up to £100 every 20 seconds - has risen by 73 per cent since 2009.

Mark Baille from Care added: "It's become apparent that whoever is elected in the upcoming General Election needs to take action and soon to reduce the stake on these machines or remove them from the high street."

The findings of an industry review by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport are expected to recommend new restrictions on FOBTs which they're released in the next few months.

The Association of British Bookmakers was quoted by the Daily Mail as saying: "The increase in revenue from gaming machines in betting shops of three per cent [compared to the last report] is in line with the average growth in revenue across the whole of the gambling industry [three per cent] and growth in the economy as a whole."

Bookmakers have also warned the billions of pounds in taxes and thousands of jobs would be put at risk in tighter restrictions were put on FOBTs.

Click here to listen to Premier's Alex Williams speaking with Care's Mark Baille:

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