A cut in the maximum amount of cash that can be inserted into Fixed-Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs)is to be imposed by the government to ease concern about the high-stakes electronic devices. Under the new rules, anyone using a FOBT – often called the crack cocaine of gambling – will need to inform staff if they want to bet more than £50 cash at a time.

Gamblers would also have the alternative of getting an online account so that spending can be tracked, following an assessment released by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). Until now the controversial electronic FOBTs – which account for half of betting shop profits – allowed players to lose £100 of their own money every 20 seconds on casino games such as roulette.

In its assessment, the DCMS argued that “account-based play allows players access to up-to-date information which can reduce biased or irrational gambling … and help people maintain control”. It added: “Making payments over the counter rather than on to the machine directly can provide opportunities for intervention which may give players a reality check.”

There is evidence that restricting Fixed-Odds Betting Terminals would hit bookmakers’ bottom lines. Data from the regulator shows that 7% of casino game bets on FOBTs are within the staking band of £50-100 and generate 37% of gross profits from punters.

However, campaigners say that ministers have “ducked the big issue” by not cutting the maximum bet in all circumstances. A poll commissioned by the Campaign for Fairer Gambling (CFFG) found that nearly three-quarters (73%) said the £100 maximum stake that can be bet on each spin should be restricted – with 60% of those polled saying it should be slashed to only £2. This Fixed-Odds Betting Terminals story originally appeared on the Guardian website.