Seaside arcades in Wales suffering

WALES -- As reported by the Western Mail: "Wales faces losing part of its seaside heritage, with family-run amusement arcades heading for ruin due to tough new gambling laws, owners claim.

"Traditional arcades featuring slot machines are struggling to make ends meet, leaving operators worried the glory days of the nation's famous seaside entertainment venues could be drawing to an end.

"Amusement arcade owners say hard-core gambling has been given the go-ahead, while safer forms of entertainment are being harshly regulated.

"New laws have reduced the number of machines that may be operated in arcades and they cannot offer the same big-money payouts offered by machines in betting shops. Now more and more social gamblers are turning to betting shops, where slot machines are less tightly regulated, owners fear.

"...The British Amusement Catering Trade Association (Backta) has described the impact of the Gambling Act on the industry as devastating, warning that 'at this rate half the industry will be gone in six months'..."