City councillors are calling for a ban or strict limits on the controversial high-stakes betting machines known as the ‘crack cocaine’ of gambling.

According to the Campaign for Fairer Gambling an estimated £152.5 million per year is spent in Birmingham on the 650 Fixed Odds Betting Terminals, or FOBTs, resulting in losses of £29.1 million and piling misery on many households .

The roulette-style machines, found in bookmakers shops throughout the city, allow gamblers to bet up to £100 per spin, meaning they can lose thousands of pounds in a few minutes.

Now two Liberal Democrat councillors, Karen Trench and Jon Hunt, are calling on the city council to lobby Government for a ban or strict limits on the machines - such as a maximum stake of £2 per spin.

Councillor Karen Trench

They have tabled a motion to the council meeting on Tuesday, November 3 which also says the council should be handed powers to limit the numbers of betting shops in the city - after complaints that some areas, like the Fox and Goose shopping centre in Hodge Hill, are becoming over run with them.

It states: “The council supports measures to bring these machines in line with the rules for fruit machines, which restrict maximum bets per spin to £2.

“This council believes that the increase in FOBTs is causing significant problems and believes that the Government should either use the existing legislative framework, or introduce legislation to outlaw casino games in betting shops.

“It calls for Local Authorities to be given effective powers to protect the local amenity and wellbeing of communities by limiting the proliferation of betting shops and reducing the maximum stakes and slowing down the speed of play.”

Coun Hunt (Perry Barr) said: “Vulnerable people are being lured into losing lots of money. They put their debit card in and it just soaks up their cash. It is not as if there is any skill involved.”

If the motion wins the support of the council it will write to Government minister Tracey Crouch demanding a change of law and join a campaign of local councils led by the London borough of Newham.