CAMPAIGNERS against fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBT) criticised the Gambling Commission regulator today after it failed to adopt a maximum stake of £2.

The commission said in its report today that the stake limit for FOBT non-slot games, including roulette, should be set at £30 or less.

These high-stake, high-speed and highly addictive games currently allow a stake of up to £100 every 20 seconds, enabling a player to theoretically gamble away £18,000 an hour.

Matt Zarb-Cousin, a former spokesman for Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn who now campaigns for fairer gambling rules after struggling with a gambling problem, said the government will make the final decision and urged people to “keep up the pressure.”

Shadow digital, culture, media and sport secretary Tom Watson said: “This is a deeply disappointing report from the Gambling Commission, who appear to have caved in to industry pressure.

“Gambling addiction treatment experts have identified that roulette-style FOBT games are highly addictive and the Gambling Commission accepts that they are the most used FOBT game in bookies’ shops across the country.

“The government must cut the stake to £2 on FOBT machines, including the highly addictive roulette style games, as well as increase the delay between each play.”