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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/jan/11/betting-shop-roulette-machines
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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Betting shop roulette machines escape ban | Betting shop roulette machines escape ban |
| (8 days later) | |
| Culture minister Hugh Robertson has ruled out a crackdown on controversial betting shop roulette machines which have transformed most of Britain's high street bookmakers into hybrid casinos. | Culture minister Hugh Robertson has ruled out a crackdown on controversial betting shop roulette machines which have transformed most of Britain's high street bookmakers into hybrid casinos. |
| While he accepted that "common sense suggests that [problem gambling linked to betting shop machines] is a major problem", he added "there is a lack of evidence to back that up". | While he accepted that "common sense suggests that [problem gambling linked to betting shop machines] is a major problem", he added "there is a lack of evidence to back that up". |
| His comments come almost a decade after then culture secretary Tessa Jowell declared that the machines – then a new innovation, exploiting a regulatory loophole to offer £500 jackpots instead of the £25 top payout on a fruit machine – were "on probation". | His comments come almost a decade after then culture secretary Tessa Jowell declared that the machines – then a new innovation, exploiting a regulatory loophole to offer £500 jackpots instead of the £25 top payout on a fruit machine – were "on probation". |
| Robertson said he hoped that "a major research project" to be carried out by the industry-funded Responsible Gambling Trust would deliver definitive evidence needed to justify government intervention. "Once the problem is proved to exist, the government will act," he said. | Robertson said he hoped that "a major research project" to be carried out by the industry-funded Responsible Gambling Trust would deliver definitive evidence needed to justify government intervention. "Once the problem is proved to exist, the government will act," he said. |
| Britain's biggest bookmaker William Hill already makes takes more in winnings through the 9,000 betting machines in its shops than it does through all other forms of traditional betting sports combined. | Britain's biggest bookmaker William Hill already makes takes more in winnings through the 9,000 betting machines in its shops than it does through all other forms of traditional betting sports combined. |
| Ladbrokes, which has more than 8,000 slot machines, sees £10bn staked on machines in its shops a year — and the touch-screen games remain one of the fastest growing products. | Ladbrokes, which has more than 8,000 slot machines, sees £10bn staked on machines in its shops a year — and the touch-screen games remain one of the fastest growing products. |
| Some Labour MPs have complained that clusters of betting shops, highlighted by the Guardian last week, in their constituencies have created an acute problem because of the controversial slot machines. | Some Labour MPs have complained that clusters of betting shops, highlighted by the Guardian last week, in their constituencies have created an acute problem because of the controversial slot machines. |
| Lucy Powell, Labour MP for Manchester Central, said: "There are mind-numbing numbers of betting shops in places like Moston in my constituency. I think it is a moral question to ask whether it is a good thing that betting companies are targeting the poor and whether government lets them." | Lucy Powell, Labour MP for Manchester Central, said: "There are mind-numbing numbers of betting shops in places like Moston in my constituency. I think it is a moral question to ask whether it is a good thing that betting companies are targeting the poor and whether government lets them." |
| Shares in William Hill and Ladbrokes both made modest gains on Friday. Dirk Vennix, chief executive at the Association of British Bookmakers, told BBC 5 Live the vast majority of punters gambled safely and responsibly. "They are adults who think about what they spend and how much they can lose - they are not stupid." | Shares in William Hill and Ladbrokes both made modest gains on Friday. Dirk Vennix, chief executive at the Association of British Bookmakers, told BBC 5 Live the vast majority of punters gambled safely and responsibly. "They are adults who think about what they spend and how much they can lose - they are not stupid." |
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