THE announcement of new restrictions on gambling has been welcomed by a County Durham councillor who lobbied for the change she hopes could save lives.

Durham County Cllr Joy Allen spent two years lobbying as national licensing champion with the Local Government Association (LGA) for industry reforms.

In response to calls for change, the government last week unveiled plans to reduce the maximum stake on fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) every 20 seconds from £100 to £2.

Bishop Auckland Cllr Allen said she hoped the new rules would encourage those with gambling addictions to seek help and advice before it was “too late”.

“The amount you can lose in a spin is crazy, even if you’ve got a lot of money,” added Cllr Allen, who now sits on the LGA’s innovations and improvement board.

“People are struggling with austerity and are looking for something to change their lives.

"You can see if somebody has a drug or alcohol problem but you can’t see a gambling problem.

“People have lost their lives, wives and families as a result of it.”

In Bishop Auckland alone there are around seven betting shops in the space of less than one mile - where even with new reforms, customers could lose almost £200 in half an hour on FOBTs.

Due to a limit of four FOBTs per betting shop, Cllr Allen believes others open nearby to give customers increased access, creating a cluster of shops.

In the wake of the announcement bookmaker William Hill branded the decision a “tough challenge” and warned it could see around 900 of its betting shops become loss-making, with a “proportion” at risk of closure after the limit comes into effect.

Despite risks to jobs and empty units on the high street, Cllr Allen said it was important to put the needs of vulnerable customers first.

“The industry says it would affect jobs but the detrimental effect to the health and wellbeing of people outweighs that,” she added.

“Some of these shops only have one person working in them, and while it may have an impact on the high street, they can get a job in another industry.”

Cllr Allen has vowed to continue an active role in lobbying for further change.

The campaign will look to the exposure of gambling to children through online and television adverts. She said: “This is one step but if you watch daytime television you are inundated by adverts.

"That’s the next challenge.

"The government has curbed cigarettes and alcohol so much so that you can’t even see cigarettes in shops.

"Gambling is getting away with it.”

To find help for a gambling addiction call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808-8020133.

Or visit NHS recommended gamcare.org.uk