A LOCAL MSP will hold high-profile talks in the Scottish Parliament about controversial betting machines dubbed the ‘crack cocaine of gambling’.

Stuart McMillan, pictured, has secured a debate in Holyrood about the rise of fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) in Inverclyde and Scotland.

The debate will take place today and comes after the Telegraph revealed in February how £77 million was gambled on the machines in just one year in Inverclyde.

The district has around 70 FOBTs across 19 bookmakers.

The SNP’s Mr McMillan has met with former gamblers from across the district to hear their experiences and opinions on what should be done to stop the increased use of machines.

He said: “This is a debate I would rather not be having, however, with nearly £80m gambled in a single year on FOBTs in Inverclyde alone, it is extremely important to me that it is debated the parliament.

“By highlighting the dangers and pressuring both the Scottish and Westminster governments to do all they can to protect people from them, I hope I am able in some way to prevent more lives and families being ruined by these machines.” The MSP first raised the issue in parliament three weeks ago when he asked the Scottish Government what it could do to tackle the rise in the number and use of fixed odds machines.

But he was told that because gambling is reserved to Westminster, ministers have no power to regulate the number of machines in betting shops.

Greenock Councillor Math Campbell-Sturgess has also been campaigning on the issue.

He said: “We urgently need to tackle the growth in these dangerous machines, which are fuelling problem gambling.

“I will be attending a summit on gambling in town centres organised by Derek Mackay MSP and I am working hand in glove with Stuart on this issue.

“It is fantastic he has managed to secure this debate and I hope it will help force action on these machines.”