CAMPAIGNERS have called for tighter controls on gambling machines after an estimated £12m was lost on them in the county last year.

Every day gamblers pumped £164,000 into fixed odd betting terminals (FOBTs) in the county, according to the pressure group Campaign for Fairer Gambling. And the number of betting shops in Oxfordshire increased by nine, from 58 to 67, meaning there are an estimated 244 FOBTs in the county, compared to 215 the previous year.

The machines allow gamblers to play casino-style games with a £100 maximum bet per spin. Campaigners have said this allows huge sums to be lost in a very short space of time.

In 2013, £9m was lost by gamblers playing the machines.

Former gambling addict Owen Baily, who now campaigns for more responsible practices by bookmakers, said: “The accessibility of these machines and how quickly you can place bets makes it difficult to use them responsibly.

“They give people hope. I know that you can walk into a bookmakers with £10 and there is that hope you can win £500 or £1,000.

“They are very sophisticated and very alluring. I have met hundreds of people in the Oxford area whose lives have been blighted by gambling on FOBTs.

“And the impact I have seen has been on families, children, wives.

“A lot of discussion has been had about reduction the stake from £100 to £2. I am in support of this but I do not think it is the absolute solution. What needs to happen is more awareness, more help and support and more understanding of problem gambling.”

The figures were revealed by the Campaign for Fairer Gambling, which uses research from groups such as the Responsible Gambling Trust and the Gambling Commission to estimate how much was spent and lost on FOBTs.

Campaign for Fairer gambling consultant Adrian Parkinson said: “This year’s data is especially poignant because we have taken extra time to calculate the effect these machines are having on at risk or vulnerable gamblers.

“In this General Election year politicians really need to wake up to the devastating effect these machines are having on communities up and down the country.

“There is one simple and effective way to reduce the harm of these machines without the end for primary education – reducing the maximum stake from £100 to £2.”

But the Association of British Bookmakers said most people who used the machines were not problem gamblers and said it had taken steps to reduce the risk of addiction.

Spokeswoman Hilary Douglas said: “Nationally, the average spend per players is £6.50, demonstrating that the majority of customers are enjoying a legitimate leisure activity responsibly.

“Players are able to set limits on the amount of time they play for or money they play for or money they spend, and the evidence so far shows that 85 per cent of players who set a limit stick to it.

“We do not, and never have, targeted deprived areas.

“Our shops are in areas of high population or high footfall, such as city centres, areas where there is demand just like any other retail business.”

In 2014 there were 28 betting shops in Oxford, most of which were in the city centre, Cowley, Iffley, Blackbird Leys and Headington.

Oxford East Labour candidate Andrew Smith said: “A lot of people who can ill afford to lose so much money can get seriously addicted to this form of gambling, ruining lives and families.

“Government should bring in stronger powers for councils to limit the number of betting shops with these terminals, limit the number of machines, limit the stakes and limit the amount which can be lost at any one session.”