SHOCKING statistics have revealed more than £2million has been lost on fixed-odds betting machines in Worcester in the last year alone.
A study by Landman Economics has found the 12 bookmakers and 44 machines in the city saw gamblers lose £2,114,757 last year.
Between 2008 and 2016, a total of £8,357,521 was lost on the machines in Worcester, the study also claims.
It comes after figures revealed last month by the industry’s regulator, the Gambling Commission, found a staggering £1.82bn was spent on FOBTs last year – an all time high.
BACTA, the trade association for the amusement and arcade gaming machine industry, is now leading a campaign calling on the Government to tighten regulation on FOBTs.
Currently gamblers can stake up to £100 every 20 seconds on these machines. BACTA wants to see this reduced to minimise the potential for harm these machines pose to at-risk gamblers.
John White, BACTA CEO, said: “These figures underline the damaging impact of high-stakes FOBTs, right across the UK.
“The only way to protect consumers is through a substantial reduction to the £100 stake limit.”
The Campaign for Fairer Gambling has also added its voice to the debate by saying the maximum stake should be slashed to £2.
“These figures reveal the shocking scale of the havoc FOBTs are causing on Britain’s high streets,” a campaign spokesman said.
“The bizarre experiment to allow high stakes casino gambling in betting shops has failed. Enough is enough. It is time for all political parties to commit to reducing the maximum stake on these machines to £2 a spin.”
