Christian groups have accused the Government of gambling with lives in a joint response to plans from the Department for Culture, Media & Sport to significantly increase the stakes and prizes for the most widely available slot machines in Britain.

Under new proposals, stakes and prizes for Category C machines would double with maximum stakes going up to £1 and maximum prizes rising to £70. At a time of increasing poverty and unemployment, the maximum prize for a pub fruit machine will be higher than weekly benefit levels.

The Methodist Church, the Church of England, the Church of Scotland, Quaker Action on Alcohol and Drugs, the Baptist Union of Great Britain, the United Reformed Church, the Evangelical Alliance, CARE and The Salvation Army have launched their campaign challenging the move.

'Fruitless' is a response to the proposals and a call for the Government not to implement the measures.

The Church of England’s Home Affairs Policy Adviser, Christopher Jones, said the proposed increases were excessive.

"With global recession looming, unemployment rising and disposable income falling, the Government has gone back on its earlier concern for vulnerable people in response to pressure from the gambling industry.

"While it is right that there should be periodic reviews of stakes and prizes, the proposed increases are excessive and will encourage people to risk money that they simply cannot afford to lose.

"The Government should return to its more modest proposals made last summer and remember the arguments which persuaded it then not to opt for larger increases."

He warned that the proposals could harm society's most vulnerable.

"It is wrong that people who are liable to engage in problem gambling should be made to pay the price of protecting businesses from economic pressures," he said.



‘Slot machines are one of the most addictive forms of gambling, because of the repetitive and solitary nature of play,’ added David Bradwell, Public Issues Policy Adviser for the British Methodist Church. ‘The Government claim to be committed to protecting those vulnerable to gambling addiction, but have ignored our calls for caution and proper analysis. Fruitless is a stand for vulnerable people in the face of these ridiculous proposals.’



Supporters are being encouraged to sign up to an online petition: http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/fruitless/.



The campaign is also supported by a website - www.fruitless.org.uk - which features personal stories of gambling addiction, as well as tips for getting involved in the campaign and in-depth information on the issues.