A LEADING Inverclyde problem gambling campaigner has welcomed a change in rules that will allow councils to tackle controversial roulette machines.

MSP Stuart McMillan, pictured,  has been a long-time critic of so-called fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) and believes new measures recently agreed in the Scottish Parliament will help tackle the issue.

The Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee has decided that local authorities, including Inverclyde Council, will have greater power over planning applications.

Councils will soon be able to block any change in premises use to a bookmakers and the Greenock and Inverclyde MSP believes this will make a big difference in tackling problem gambling.

Mr McMillan said: “It is great news that local authorities will have the power to stop the clustering of betting shops in our communities, a practice which has disproportionately affected many of our most deprived communities.

“While plenty of people enjoy a casual flutter, the proliferation of betting offices – often concentrated together – has led to serious cases of problem gambling and debt.

“Inverclyde currently has 18 betting shops. That means there is a payday lender for every half mile in that vicinity.

“That is a disproportionate number for a community the size of Inverclyde, and we need a proper strategy to deal with this issue.

“Councils will now have the power to set limits that work and prevent reckless clustering – a big step forward for local communities.”

Mr McMillan has been campaigning against FOBTs and highlighting the issue of gambling addiction since the Tele revealed three years ago how punters in Inverclyde wagered an astonishing £77 million on them in just 12 months, leading to a net loss of £2.6m.

The issue has also gained national attention and campaign groups have taken it to Westminster and Holyrood.

FOBTs, also known as roulette machines, have been dubbed the ‘crack cocaine’ of gambling with punters able to bet up to £100 every 20 seconds.

The industry has since introduced a voluntary £50 maximum stake unless customers ask to bet more.

Calls have been made to reduce the limit to £2 per spin and last year the UK Government pledged to take a ‘closer look’ at the issue and has set up a special problem gambling review.