MP Tom Watson has described a planned crackdown on fixed-odds betting terminals as "deeply disappointing" because it involves another 12-week consultation.

Mr Watson, MP for West Bromwich East and Labour's Shadow Culture Secretary, has been leading calls for action to tackle the high-speed electronic games, which are said to be dangerously addictive and currently allow a player to gamble away thousands of pounds in an hour.

And the the Government has announced a consultation on plans to cut the maximum stake on the machines, described as the crack cocaine of gambling, from £100 to between £50 and £2.

Mr Watson said: "This response from the Government is deeply disappointing.

"Ministers have squandered a real opportunity to curb highly addictive Fixed Odds Betting Terminals which can cause real harm to individuals, their families and local communities.

"After months of delays they’ve simply decided to have another consultation.

"And instead of taking firm measures on the proliferation of gambling advertising, on TV and online, the Government have again been found wanting."

A fixed-odds betting terminal.
A fixed-odds betting terminal.

The Government will consider its final proposals after the consultation ends on January 23.

Culture minister Tracey Crouch said: "It is vital that we strike the right balance between socially-responsible growth and protecting the most vulnerable, including children, from gambling-related harm."

Raising standards of player protection for online gambling, a responsible gambling campaign and new advertising guidelines are among a raft of suggestions designed to help minimise the risk to vulnerable people and children.

Strengthening the code on responsible gambling advertising and responsible gambling initiatives are also being considered.

Bookmakers claimed that the measures would do little to help people with a gambling problem.

Malcolm George, chief executive of the Association of British Bookmakers, said the Government has "some intelligent ideas".

But he told BBC Breakfast: "They've looked at the evidence that was submitted last year, and they haven't come down with a firm view because actually the evidence around cutting stake doesn't necessarily suggest you're going to help problem gamblers.

"The risk for the industry as a whole is that you simply move a problem gambler from one environment into another, into an amusement arcade, into a casino, into online.

"And that mightn't be the best policy outcome."

Mr George said "losing 12,000 jobs" is "a very high price to pay" for a measure he said might not work and which may drive gamblers "underground into the hands of money lenders".

He added: "Just cutting stake to £2, ruining the lives of the thousands of employees who will lose their jobs, ruining the high street and the attraction betting shops provide, when it won't actually be a benefit to a problem gambler, that simply doesn't make sense."

The Government is recommending maintaining current stakes on other gaming machines, apart from on prize bingo gaming, where the industry has already proposed an increase from £1 to £2 and prizes from £70 to £100.

Ms Crouch believes the stake reduction could help limit the potential for large session losses along with the potential harmful impact on the player and their wider communities.

Labour has a policy to reducing the maximum stake for fixed odds betting terminals to £2 a spin and will ban gambling company advertising on football shirts.”