Brent Council said it will continue to press for tighter gambling regulations after the Government announced changes to the rules around fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs).

It has always supported the campaign to reduce the maximum stake on these machines – popular in high street bookies – from £100 to £2.

The Government agreed to these proposals, and, under pressure, moved the date they will come into effect to April.

In last month’s budget, Philip Hammond announced that changes to FOBTs would take place in October next year – which would hand the gambling industry a £900 million windfall.

But after sports minister Tracy Crouch resigned over the decision and more than 100 MPs signalled their intentions to rebel against it, the Government agreed to change the date.

Cllr Tom Miller, responsible for stronger communities at Brent Council, praised this decision but said more needs to be done to reduce the harm gambling can cause.

He said: “We backed legislation to limit FOBT stakes to a maximum of £2, and we continue to support the aims of the all-party parliamentary group who are calling for local authorities to have powers to prevent clusters of betting shops.

“We would like to see bookies and casinos relocating from areas that our risk assessments have shown that people are particularly vulnerable, but what we really need is Government to give us the powers to compel them to relocate.”

On Monday, the council’s cabinet agreed to the principles of gambling in the borough set out by the licensing committee.

While this remains a technical document about how the various premises are run, Cllr Miller wants to see greater protection for those affected by gambling and along the streets where bookmakers are situated.