Betting shops

I'm quite staggered at the figures after reading this article

www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/jan/04/fixed-odds-betting-terminals-poorest-communities

These high-speed, high-stakes machines are mainly in poor parts of Northern cities and the poorer parts of London.

I can't believe that 5.6 billion was bet on them in 2012 - surely this can't be correct?

One Manchester MP claims that 190 million was gambled in her area alone, more, she says, than the local council spends on services.

The gambling industry claim not to target these areas - I don't believe a word!