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Church groups in the United Kingdom are highly outrage by the latest development in gambling legislation.  Parliament recently gave approval to gambling operators raising the minimum stakes on slot machines.  Church organizers, long time foes of slot machines and the gambling industry, are convince families in the United Kingdom are going to be hurt.

Until know the minimum stakes that gambler could bet on slot machines in the United Kingdom was 50p, now after the approval of the House of Lords this past Tuesday, the new minimum is £1.  Not only are gamblers paying more put the prize money value on these slot machines have also been increase.

Several churches around the United Kingdom have joined forces against the increase, including the Church of Scotland, the Methodist Church, and the United Reformed Church.  The churches believe that families already touched by problem gambling are going to be forced in to deeper debt and woes.  The church released a statement expressing their concerns.

“The government had promised that no such increase would be made until a further gambling prevalence study had been published and has reneged on this promise.

“We do not know what effects this legislation will have on the levels of problem gambling or on the lives of those already addicted to slot machines, but we have always urged the government to act with caution.”

The churches have pointed out that underprivileged areas already see a spike in gambling activity during times of economic hardships like the one the whole world is currently experiences.  They have pleaded with the government not to bend under what they call pressure from the gambling industry.

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