MORECAMBE MP Geraldine Smith reckons new, more relaxed gambling laws could mean the death of seaside towns - and increase the number of gambling addicts.
Ms Smith was one of a group of back bench MPs who voted against the Gambling Bill in Parliament on Monday.
But the Bill passed its second reading and Ms Smith believes that could spell disaster for Morecambe as the resort's amusement arcades could be up against casinos with machines with unlimited jackpots.
"The Bill removes a number of measures which will allow significant expansion of gaming in Britain," she says.
"A far more sensible approach would be to allow a limited number of pilot projects in designated areas.
"This will undoubtedly lead to a significant increase in problem gambling.
"To allow a virtually uncontrolled expansion of gambling without having put in place and tested the protective measures is frankly a recipe for disaster," she says.
"The issue of greatest concern is problem gambling. We have somewehere between 275,000 and 370,000 problem gamblers."
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