Bookmaker William Hill has threatened to close around 700 betting shops following the government's decision to reduce the maximum stake on fixed-odds betting terminals to £2.
Everyone agrees that it was sensible to bring the stake down on fixed odds betting terminals from £100 every twenty seconds to £2. If that means that bookmakers like William Hill stop ripping off the vulnerable individuals who have become addicted to such terrible machines, then the sooner the better and it should have happened years ago.
We lament the loss of jobs but we must recognise that many of these jobs were created in recent years because bookmakers were exploiting a loophole that wasn't justified, wasn't ethical and wasn't intended.
These stores were well aware that it would be brought to an end eventually. They should have been preparing their staff long before the campaign to reduce the stake came into being.
Let us now hear about what will now be done to create roles and jobs doing things that are worthwhile, fun and not addictive.
