The Guardian – Amid criticism bookmaker vows to link executive pay to targets tackling issue and set up a board committee to investigate policy Ladbrokes will seek to calm the row over the lucrative fixed-odds gambling machines in high-street bookies this week with a vow to link executive pay to targets on tackling problem gambling. The bookmaker also plans to set up a board committee to investigate responsible gambling policies as it responds to widespread criticism of machines dubbed the “crack cocaine of gambling” by campaigners. Ladbrokes has written to the minister responsible for gambling, Helen Grant, and industry stakeholders…

Grimsby Telegraph – I AM WRITING in response to the article printed on Monday, February 10, in the Grimsby Telegraph: “£34 million – the shocking amount poured into fixed odds betting machines dubbed; The crack cocaine of gambling.” At the Association of British Bookmakers (ABB), we were very disappointed that the Grimsby Telegraph made reference to the unfounded statistic that “£34m was spent on gambling machines in betting shops across North East Lincolnshire” and that £34.3 million in cash was poured into the machines. Such figures are inaccurate estimates of turnover on B2 machine content (e.g. roulette games) and provide a…