Letters: Bookies' bonanza

I read with interest your article, "Light and airy betting shops 'open the door to problem gambling" (9 May), concerning research identifying a growing attraction to fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) among young men and ethnic minorities.

While the article acknowledged the associated problems and discussed the cultural changes that have brought them about, I think it missed the important point that bookmakers are getting as many of the machines on to the high streets as they can, as quickly as they can, to milk the cash cows for all they can. Legislation prevents any one betting shop from having more than four FOBTs.

But such is their importance to bookmakers' profits that a common solution is to open another shop close by (sometimes even next door) and double the number of machines that are taking the punters' cash as quickly as they can feed it in.

Each machine wins double the amount that Nevada slot machines do - despite UK bookmakers being open for only half the time Nevada casinos are.

People should know about this irresponsible and callous strategy as it can devastate communities.

Derek Webb

Fairer Gambling Campaign

North Sherwood Street

Nottingham