Hampshire gamblers are losing more than £500m a year on high stakes machines in betting shops, the Daily Echo can reveal.

People in Southampton spent nearly £200m on what has been described as the “crack cocaine of gambling” – the equivalent to the city’s entire health budget.

The huge losses were revealed in the week the city’s own giant Las Vegas-style casino moved a step closer.

Now one MP has called for urgent Government action against the machines which he says are “ripping out the heart of many low income families”.

For the full story click here