Jobs could be at risk in betting crackdown

They’ve been called the crack cocaine of gambling, but the government has hinted at a crackdown on high-street betting machines? The money that can be lost in some fixed odds machines is eye-watering – it is theoretically possible to lose £18,000 in an hour. Labour has just demanded that the betting industry pays a new tax to help addicts and the government is expected to announce what action it will take shortly. But as we’ve found out, jobs might be at risk and problem gambling won’t go away if you just tinker with the machinery. A warning – there are some flashing lights in this report.