Fruit Slot Machines Addictive for Kids

Professor Mark Griffiths, Europe’s only professor of gambling, has issued a warning to the government, that he thinks the new Gambling Act is going to hurt their children. He said that slot machines are the first step on the road to a gambling addiction, and the new Gambling Act has just pushed their children onto the highway. The fruit slot machines may look like toys, but they most certainly aren’t.

The new Gambling Act has classified these slot machines as amusement games, and they are now in the same league according to the government. The slot machines are considered Category D machines, which means they take 10p stakes and pay out up to £5. They are also in the same grouping as arcade games such as toy cranes; therefore children can now legally play them.

Prof Griffiths said, "Ministers say they want to protect the most vulnerable from the dangers of gambling. If they are serious, they must stop children playing these machines. "It is extremely short-sighted to cling to the view that these slot machines are acceptable because they do not cost much to play. You can lose large amounts of money very quickly. For some, the dangers of fruit machines will grow as liberalization of casinos gives young people more opportunities to gamble with higher stakes and for bigger jackpots.”

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