THE UK Government has confirmed it will respond to the consultation on Fixed Odds Betting Machines.

There had been fears ministers were planning to scrap the review which could scupper attempts to limit the amount of cash staked on the machines which critics say is adding top gambling problems.

Earlier this month the Evening Times reported how Ronnie Cowan , Inverclyde SNP MP, who is also the chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Fixed Odds Betting Terminals wrote to the minister responsible for gambling after the response to the review had been delayed.

He has since been assured by the minister, Tracey Crouch that the response to the FOBT review would be published in October.

It was feared that the Chancellor, Philip Hammond, was concerned any changes could have an effect on the amount of tax the treasury gets from gaming machines.

Mr Cowan said: “The unwelcome intervention by the Chancellor, who was only thinking about Treasury coffers, to scupper any stake reduction of Fixed Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs) will hopefully now dissipate.

“The Campaign for Fairer Gambling have previously informed me that in my constituency of Inverclyde the cash inserted in FOBTs was over £11.5m in 2016, with losses amounting to nearly £3m.

“I hope the Minister will now come to the Chamber and announce radical plans for addressing gambling related harm and ultimately reduce the unit stake on FOBTs.”

Losses in Glasgow are estimated to be £35m a year.