A separation of church and state, so to speak, has occurred in the United Kingdom as a result of the minimum stakes on slot machines being officially raised to £1.  Just this week the House of Lords approved the motion to raise minimum stakes on slot machines; meanwhile church groups are shouting their disapproval.

During a debate in the House, the Bishop of Carlisle expressed why he did not think it was a good idea to raise stakes on slot machines.  It is likely that the multi church coalition that has formed in protest of this change agrees with his sentiments.  The Bishop of Carlisle questioned the House as to why thy thought it a good idea to raise the minimum stakes when they are well aware of how addictive slot machines can be.

“There is evidence from Canada, Australia and New Zealand that at least one-third of the profits of gaming come from at-risk or problem gamblers. That is not entertainment,” said the Bishop.

“I believe that they will increase problem gambling in a time of recession, and vulnerable people will be most affected.”

“The 2007 gambling prevalence study showed that those on lower incomes have higher rates of problem gambling,” he concluded. 

Offering a defense for the other side of the argument, Communications Minister Lord Carter of Barnes explained why the government approved the change in slot machine stakes.  Very simply, he explained, House arcade revenues had tumbled 21 percent and as a result almost 1,000 jobs were lost.