Fixed odds betting machines: Tom Watson on regulations

An MP who helped bring in fixed-odds betters machines admitted he "dropped the ball on this one" and did not understand the "impact this technology would have on the High Street".

Tom Watson spoke ahead of Labour using an opposition day debate on Wednesday to discuss the regulation of the terminals, and appealed for Lib Dem support,

He said no report was needed to show the machines were being used for money laundering, and were leading to increased violence with people attacking the machines.

The Labour MP told the Daily Politics: "We should never really have licensed these machines in the way we did in 2005, and we should put the matter right as quickly as possible."

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