A REVIEW into fixed-odds betting terminals - dubbed the crack cocaine of gambling - has been welcomed by a Councillor who lobbied the Council to call on the government to ban or limit stakes on the machines.

Councillor Richard Dunbar, who put forward the motion at a Full Council meeting earlier this month, said he welcomes the “long awaited review”.

The motion was sent to the Government asking them to lower the stakes possible on the machines, known as FOBTs - Fixed Odds Betting Terminals.

Cllr Dunbar said: “Gambling needs to be made safer and fairer but I don’t think this review goes far enough to tackle the real issues.

“In terms of FOBTs I think that a £2 minimum stake is clearly the most sensible option.

“In the 12-week consultation period the Government need to look at the evidence; 43 per cent of people who use FOBTs are either a problem gambler or at risk of becoming one.

“I am disappointed that the review has chosen not to take a tough stance on limiting the spread of betting related adverts on TV, and no clear commitment to providing additional funding to opening clinics that will deal with harsh realities of problem gambling.

“I would actively encourage the government to legislate to ensure a maximum £2 stake is introduce for FOBTs.

“Moreover, they should also start an immediate review into problem gambling, introduce a compulsory levy on gambling companies that will fund treatment for problem gambling and give more powers to local authorities to prevent the excessive clustering of betting shops with FOBTs.

If we ignore this issue, we are allowing the next generation to increasingly become targets for gambling companies who have shown no concern towards any people unless they can be measured in pound signs.”

Yesterday, the Government announced a 12-week consultation aiming to reduce the number of players suffering large losses and also to make advertising rules stricter.

There are 252 of the high-speed betting machines, which people can bet up to £100 every 20 seconds on, around the district..

Under new proposals, the maximum stake will be cut to between £2 and £50, and the review will also look at investing in increased player protection online, a responsible gambling campaign, and new advertising rules to try and minimise the risk to vulnerable people and children.

Speaking in Parliament, Shipley MP Philip Davies, a former bookmaker, said: “The Gambling Commission over the summer published its report into problem gambling.

“It found the highest levels of problem gambling were in spread betting, then through betting on betting exchanges, then through playing poker in pubs and clubs, then betting online on events other than sports, horse racing and greyhound racing, and only then followed by playing gaming machines in bookmakers.

“Given those much higher levels of problem gambling all come with unlimited stakes and unlimited potential winnings, if the Government is so obsessed with evidence, why is it just focusing so much on betting machines in bookmakers, or is this just playing to the gallery as most of us know it is really all about?”

Speaking later, he added: “Problem gamblers use a lot of different things, and you can play exactly the same games on the internet.

“It will push people away from shops, where staff can keep an eye on them, to go online at home.

“This is not to do with problem gamblers, it is people who do not like bookmakers. They don’t care about the people losing the money, they just don’t like the people the money is going to.”

There are more than 60 betting shops in the district, which the Association of British Bookmakers said employ more than 350 people and pay more than £7.2 million in local and national taxes

A spokesman for the ABB said: “We believe the focus of any final decision should be to ensure measures are adopted that will be of genuine benefit to problem gamblers.

“Betting shops cater for over six million customers every year and the vast majority of them gamble responsibly.

“We know that most problem gamblers use seven or more different types of gambling products, therefore there is a challenge for the whole gambling industry to move from a position where there is a stable level of problem gambling in this country to one where problem gambling rates are decreasing.

“Betting shops are investing very significant sums of money to help identify those at risk so that they get the help that they need, we are continually updating and working to improve responsible gambling measures.”

Culture minister Tracey Crouch added: “It is vital that we strike the right balance between socially-responsible growth and protecting the most vulnerable, including children, from gambling-related harm.”

Ms Crouch believes the stake reduction could help limit the potential for large session losses along with the potential harmful impact on the player and their wider communities.

The Government will consider its final proposals after the consultation ends on January 23.