Gamblers across Clackmannanshire have bet millions of pounds on high-stakes betting machines in just one year.

Players in the area are estimated to have put nearly £8 million into slot machines in a 12-month period across 2013/14, losing approximately £1.5 million in the process, according to figures released by the Campaign for Fairer Gambling.

This amounts to £113,000 being gambled on a daily basis, with losses of over £4,000 every day.

Clackmannanshire is home to almost 40 fixed odds betting terminals (FOBTs) which allow users to lose up to £100 per spin on games such as roulette.

Critics have labelled them the ‘crack cocaine’ of gambling due to their highly addictive nature.

Speaking to the Alloa Advertiser, Adrian Parkinson of the Campaign for Fairer Gambling revealed that there are an estimated 1,710 FOBT users in Clackmannanshire.

Recent research published by the Responsible Gambling Trust suggests that a third of FOBT users exhibit signs of problematic gambling, meaning there could be over 550 problem users in the Wee County.

As part of the Smith Commission recommendations, Westminster is to grant the Scottish Parliament the power to “prevent the proliferation of fixed odds betting terminals” but this move has been branded “too little, too late” by the Campaign for Fairer Gambling.

Keith Brown, MSP for Clackmannanshire and Dunblane, wants Westminster to give Scotland the power to “truly tackle this problem.” He said: “In 2013, £1,319,479 was lost by gamblers in Clackmannanshire betting on Fixed Odds Betting Terminals and I have no doubt that in many cases, this causes real hardship to local families and communities.

“I believe that while the original Smith Commission proposals were a missed opportunity for Scotland, the fact that they sought to deliver powers to allow us to tackle the scourge of FOBTs was very welcome.

“Unfortunately the watered-down plans proposed would not get to the root of the problem – and could simply see a proliferation of different premises rather than a proliferation of the machines. A limited approach to devolution in this area simply will not work.

“To truly tackle this problem, the Scottish Parliament needs power to legislate not just on the number of machines – but on controlling limits on stakes, density of machines in any given geographical area and on rapidity of play.

“The rules should also apply to other establishments like casinos – not just betting shops.

The Campaign for Fairer Gambling believes that the maximum stake must be lowered from £100 to £2.