[Mickie31]

The government are deciding to higher the maximum number of 500 pound jackpot machines allowed in Bingo Clubs and was supposed to choose from one of three options put to them by the operators. I personally think this is a terrible idea and can only see it bringing the amount of addiction and gambling to higher rates. We have enough slot machines in Bingo clubs right now and I feel it takes players away from the real reason they are there to play Bingo. How can the government justify raising the amount of 500 pound slot machines?
The government is due to make the announcement on Wednesday if they will relax the limits allowed on the number of slot machines. I would like to say that I think this will lead to higher criminal offences in the name of gambling addiction. We already have enough homeless and crime filled streets with shop lifters and other criminal offences. Surely the government can see that if they do relax the limits on the number of slot machines it could be a bad thing?
Currently Bingo halls prefer to allow the number of money machines to be linked with the size of the Bingo hall with the limits of around 14 – 15 machines. This to me seems ample and quite well reasoned out. If there are too many slot machines then it could tempt people to spend more or even work the other way so the Bingo hall loses out.
At the moment the government are deciding if there should be 20 percent of all machines in a bingo club to be 500 pound jackpot machines. The final option would be to allow a maximum of 15 top prize machines. This could well be abused and people could open bingo halls claiming they were for bingo when in actual truth they were filled with slot machines. This rings alarm bells for me and takes the focus off bingo. Bingo is fun enough so why do we need any slot machines. I can understand that some people enjoy them, but not to be abused by having so many slot machines. What do you think?