Government crackdown on 'high stake gambling'

Tighter rules on betting machines are expected to be announced today as part of a government review of gambling policy, with measures set to allow councils to refuse a planning application if they are worried about the number of shops.

A poll by the Sunday People earlier this month found that thousands can be spent hourly on the machines.

Some 63% said that fruit machines encourage problem gambling and 56% want the maximum stake limit cut from £100 to £20, it added.

More: Gambling overhaul 'to target betting machines'

People can bet £300 a minute, £18,000 a hour, on the high speed machines and they are mainly clustered in the most deprived parts of the country.

The Association of British Bookmakers said in a DCMS review last year, slot machines "add to the vitality and vibrancy of the high street" and drive footfall to other businesses.

The overhaul of rules on gambling may include a change to planning regulations to let councils stop new betting shops open.

Under current rules bookmakers do not always need planning permission to open a new outlet.

Tighter rules on betting machines are expected to be announced today as part of a government review of gambling policy.

Companies may be forced to give customers using machines more time to consider how much they are gambling on fixed-odds machines that allow stakes of hundreds of pounds in quick succession.

Councils may also be given more powers to stop betting shops opening if they are concerned about the spread of gambling venues in their area.

The measures are expected to be part of a series of proposals from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to tackle what some say are "ineffective" rules on gambling.

Read: Culture Secretary backs safeguards to curb gambling