Today, Labour MPs will vote against the Government on its proposals for stakes and prizes for gaming machines because of Ministers’ failure to curb the damage that is being done on our high streets by FOBT machines in betting shops.

Clive Efford MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Sport, said:

“Despite a growing body of evidence that these machines are being located close to areas of deprivation and make a disproportionate amount of their profits from people with gambling problems, the Government has failed to act.

“The betting industry has also acted in an irresponsible way by denying the evidence exists and consistently refusing to accept that there is a problem.”