THE NUMBER of gambling businesses in Bradford has risen since 2010, highlighting national concerns about betting shops taking over high streets.

There are around 80 gambling businesses in the area, up from 75 in 2010, according to the register of businesses held by the Office for National Statistics.

The gambling sector includes casinos and amusement arcades, but the Gambling Commission estimates that about three quarters of businesses are betting shops.

The Association of British Bookmakers says some businesses may be forced to close, blaming government clampdown on fixed odds machines, cutting the maximum bet from £100 to £2 every 20 seconds. An association spokesperson said: “We anticipate that between 3,000 and 4,000 betting shops will close on high streets across the country by 2020.”