THE letter last week from the Bookmaker’s Association I felt made some very good points.

MSP Jenny Gilruth aired her concerns in an article in the CFT that too many people were losing money from gambling in betting shops on Fixed Odds Betting terminals.

Now there are many people who pop along to the bookies put a coupon on or place a bet on a race and maybe stop over for a bit longer and have a shot on one of these machines.

Unfortunately these machines can be appropriately used by many and abused by others.

The MSP was quick to point out that Fifers had lost £9m over two years on the Fixed Odds Betting Machines in betting shops in the county and indicated that it was a problem.

But the letter from the Bookmakers said that they while there are people who become problem gamblers the bookies is the safest place for people to gamble.

That is right because they were correct to say that trained staff do keep an eye on what is going on in the shop and the real problem is that some people get hooked on the machines, just like the one armed bandits in the pub.

It is simply a fact of life that this does happen but to have some law passed is surely going to reduce personal freedom.

The MSP is right to keep her eye on what is happening in her constituency and maybe Fife in general but really the Bookmakers Association were right to air their concerns as to her desire to see some law passed to curb the use of the Fixed Odds machines.

The bookies is certainly the safest place for someone to gamble.

THE GAMBLER,

Lochgelly.