Maximum stake on Fixed Odd Betting Terminals cut from £100 to £2

But, because of Brexit, they are unable to say when the new limit will come into force.

FOBTs have been dubbed the “crack cocaine of gambling”. The video game machines are most commonly found in bookies, and mostly in poorer areas, and they allow users to stake sums on computer generated roulette, poker, back jack, and virtual slot machines.

Currently, the machines, first introduced in 1999, allow users to stake up to £100 a time. But under proposals put forward by Sports Minister Tracey Crouch, the most a gambler will be able stake on each bet will be £2.

There’s been a concerted campaign against the addictive machines. Crouch herself has been trying to push this through Cabinet since she was appointed three years ago.

She had previously been met with resistance from Chancellor Philip Hammond who is worried about the major loss of tax revenues.

Estimates suggest that the machines are worth £250m to the Treasury’s coffers.

Bookmakers too have warned of redundancies as a result of falling profit, suggesting more than 4000 shops could close across the sector, with the loss of 21,000 jobs.

But last year, with more than 230,000 individual sessions in which a player lost more than £1000, Crouch and campaigners have finally won the argument.

The Sports Minister said: “Problem gambling can devastate individuals’ lives, families and communities. It is right that we take decisive action now to ensure a responsible gambling industry that protects the most vulnerable in our society.”

She added: “While we want a healthy gambling industry that contributes to the economy, we also need one that does all it can to protect players.”

The Government also unveiled plans to toughen up protections around online gambling, such as introducing stronger age verification rules and affordability checks.

However, in the House of Lords, ministers announced that the limit wouldn’t be introduced straight away.

Tory peer Lord Cormack welcomed the Government announcement: “I do hope the Government will have a target date for implementation.

“One understands that there has to be time, but could we please fix a date by which this will come into force, because every week that goes by adds to human misery.”

Culture Minister Lord Ashton of Hyde said the backlog of work on Brexit would cause problems: “There are procedures to go through. It has to go through Parliament.

“We will do what we can to implement it but I am unable to give a precise timetable, not least because the parliamentary timetable is somewhat uncertain,” he said.

Campaigner Brian Chappell of Justice for Punters added: “These machines were introduced through the back door on to UK high streets. They’ve been trouble ever since.

“This decision means the betting shop environment will become safer for staff and customers.”

Stuart McMillan and Ronnie Cowan, both of the SNP, have long campaigned on the issues.

McMillan raised the issue during First Minister’s Questions, asking Nicola Sturgeon to “acknowledge that this welcome decision is one that will help people’s lives”.

Sturgeon replied: “I very much welcome the United Kingdom Government’s decision to reduce the maximum stake to £2.”

The First Minister added: “Of course, we will study the detailed proposals with interest, and will continue to call for appropriate action to tackle the problem.”