Scots lawmakers concerned about a Hamley toy

Lawmakers from Scotland’s SNP political party have urged the Glasgow branch of famous toy store Hamley’s to remove a toy slot machine titled Red 5 Slot Machine from its shelves, claiming that the product could encourage and teach children to gamble from an early age despite its 14-year age limit for buyers.

The “Lucky Slot” one-armed bandit uses real coins and boasts light and sound effects and arcade-style action; it is on sale both on and offline, raising concerns that it contributes toward “normalising” gambling as part of everyday life and is therefore dangerous to minors.

Anti-gambling activist and SNP MP Ronnie Cowan has reportedly written to Hamley CEO Gudjon Reynisson appealing to the company to withdraw the product.

Cowan said he was deeply disappointed that this sort of gambling product was on sale at all, saying: “Hamleys in Glasgow are selling ‘Lucky Slot’ machines which allow players to “play with real coins” something which completely normalises the notion of gambling for those who are still too young to legally do so.”

In his letter, Cowan warns that introducing children to gambling as a ‘fun’ activity could increase the risks of developing gambling related harm now or in later life and also sends the wrong social message.

Cowan’s concerns were echoed by the charity GambleAware, where a spokeswoman added: “Similarities to real life adult gambling within toys and games are of serious concern as they run the risk of normalising gambling activity for children.

“Each week 370,000 children gamble with their own money and the fact that 25,000 children aged 11 to 16 years old are problem gamblers ought to serve as a loud wake-up call to everyone concerned.

“Many children report to having their first gambling experience at the age of 12, which shows a clear need for caution. We all have a responsibility to raise awareness of the risks of gambling and promote the help that’s available at BeGambleAware.org.”

Reynisson has not yet responded to Cowan’s letter.