GAMBLING laws should be reviewed, says a Glasgow MSP who thinks there are too many bookies in poorer areas.

John Mason, SNP MSP for Shettleston, said there is a disproportionate number of betting shops in areas with higher levels of deprivation.

In his constituency he said there are more than 20 large- chain betting shops, with the total figure for bookies probably nearer to 30 when smaller chains and independents are counted.

Mr Mason added there are shops side by side in a main high street and has called for rules to be considered to limit numbers. There are at least 13 William Hill shops, five Ladbrokes and three Coral in his area, he said.

Mr Mason responded after Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman said changes that liberalised gambling laws were a mistake.

A television documentary suggested that prosperous areas have around five bookies for every 100,000 people, while poorer areas have about 12, with some deprived neighbourhoods having up to 10 within a mile.

Ms Harman said: "If we had known then what we know now (about the clustering of betting shops), we wouldn't have allowed this, because it's not just ruining the high street, it's ruining people's lives.

Mr Mason said there are five Ladbrokes shops alone in Shettleston Road. In comparison he said there were only five in total in the constituency of Aberdeenshire West, one of Scotland's most prosperous.

He said: "Harriet Harman is right. Westminster did make a major mistake and allowed the number of betting shops to spiral totally out of control but now we need to tackle this.

"I have tabled this parliamentary motion in the hope that MSPs will support a debate, which will hopefully help highlight the problem.

"There can be no doubt that gambling is easy to get addicted to and has wrecked many families and pushed a lot of people into debt.

"My main concern is that less well-off areas, such as the East End – and the people living here – are being targeted by companies who open up bookies next to pubs, post offices and ATM machines and see them as an easy hit."

stewart.paterson@ eveningtimes.co.uk