Following the Culture Secretary Maria Miller’s backing of a code to protect gamblers, Clive Efford, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Sport, said:

“This is a case of too little, too late from Maria Miller and David Cameron. These measures do not go far enough at a time when local authorities are crying out for powers that allow them to ban or curb the number of betting machines in their area.

“Yet again this Conservative-led Government is showing it cannot get its house in order - in January Ministers blocked Labour’s calls for tough gambling safeguards and they are now backing a half-hearted code of conduct.

“They are also failing to address the problem of the high risk £100 stake. David Cameron has promised action on this but we are still waiting to see if he will stick to his word.”

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