AN East Lancashire MP has raised fears that the review into ‘crack cocaine’ gambling terminals will ‘amount to nothing’.

A review into the maximum stake levels on fixed-odds betting terminals has been announced by the government after new research has shown that gambling has the ability to alter the brain permanently.

But MP Graham Jones, who represents Hyndburn and Haslingden, has spoken out against the review, saying it would make no difference.

Mr Jones said: “This review is very surprising news but I’m not convinced it will solve much.

“I believe this review will amount to nothing, they are asking these questions for the wrong reasons.

“The government denied the opportunity for 93 councils, representing 43 per cent of the population in England and Wales, to meet with the government and find a solution to this problem.

“Again I will be raising this issue with Parliament and I call on other MPs to work together and tackle this gambling issue.

“I will also be at a meeting of the all-party group where we discuss the reviews findings.”

Fixed-odds terminals allow users to place maximum bets of £100 every 20 seconds on casino games like blackjack or roulette and there are more than 35,000 of these machines across the UK.

If the review finds there is sufficient grounds to protect gamblers from addiction, maximum stakes could be slashed to £2.

Mr Jones said: “Well I think all of the evidence they are hearing points to fixed-odds terminals being dangerously addictive.

“Not only are they addictive but these machines are high stakes on the high street.

“In my opinion we shouldn’t even have gambling stations or casinos on the high street.

“These fixed-odds terminals are known as the crack cocaine of gambling, and it’s for good reason.”