Councillors have called for more to be done to help gambling addicts in the north, as it was revealed that the problem is increasing.
Members of the Highland Licensing Board said they were “shocked” at the statistics showing that more and more people in Inverness are seeking treatment for gambling addiction every year.
The figures were revealed as the board heard about the work of a local counselling service which deals with all types of addiction.
The issue of gambling came to the fore after last year’s protests at plans for a new betting shop in Merkinch.
William Hill’s plans mean that there will be three shops within a few feet of each other. Campaigners have raised concerns because of the number of highly addictive fixed odds betting terminals (FOBTs) which will be in the premises.
These machines let punters bet hundreds of pounds within a few seconds. The Highland Council has agreed to lobby the Westminster Government to change gambling regulations regarding the machines.
Elaine Fetherston, manager of Inverness-based Addictions Counselling, gave a presentation to the board and said that the number of gambling addicts being referred to them has increased in the past few years.
In 2013, eight people were referred, compared with just three the previous year.
Ms Fetherston said that already this year, two people had been referred, suggesting that they could see around 12 gambling addicts by the end of the year.
The organisation, which has been running since 1986, offers counselling for a host of problems, including drugs and alcohol.
Demand for their general counselling is so great, that Ms Fetherston said it was impossible to see everyone within the three-week target.
And the overall profile of clients is changing. Ms Fetherston said that when she started with the organisation, the typical client was a middle-aged man with an alcohol problem, whereas now they have women in their 20s with drug and alcohol problems and other issues.
To tackle the widening variety of problems, the organisation wished to expand and employ full-time counsellors.
Councillor Jamie Stone, Tain and Easter Ross, said: “I am shocked by what I have heard. What can we do to make people sit up and wake up to what an evil thing this is?”
Councillor Drew Miller expressed scepticism that moves to encourage betting shop managers to check how much people were betting on FOBTs would work.