Christian groups have accused the Government of gambling with lives in a joint response to plans from the Department for Culture, Media & Sport to significantly increase the stakes and prizes for the most widely available slot machines in Britain.

Under new proposals, stakes and prizes for Category C machines would double with maximum stakes going up to £1 and maximum prizes rising to £70. At a time of increasing poverty and unemployment, the maximum prize for a pub fruit machine will be higher than weekly benefit levels.

The Methodist Church, the Church of England, the Church of Scotland, Quaker Action on Alcohol and Drugs, the Baptist Union of Great Britain, the United Reformed Church, the Evangelical Alliance, CARE and The Salvation Army have launched their campaign challenging the move.

• Full story at Christian Today.

• Filed under Church of Scotland, Methodist Church, Quakers, Scottish Christian News Monitor, Social Policy, United Reformed Church.