Seven social clubs have had 38 illegal gambling machines seized between them by Hackney Council’s licensing enforcement team, police and the Gambling Commission.

Hackney Gazette: One of the machines being removedOne of the machines being removed (Image: Archant)

None of the premises had the correct licence to have the gambling machines, and they were previously warned to remove them by the council.

The machines that were taken included fruit machines, betting terminals and video poker machines.

Cllr Sophie Linden, Deputy Mayor, said: “In order to have machines like this legally, businesses must have the correct licence so that we can regulate them.

“This is so we can work to protect vulnerable people from harm, prevent gambling being associated with crime and ensure that gambling is conducted in a fair and open way.”

The illegal machines seized might now be destroyed. The owners have 28 days to claim the machines if they want to dispute their legality.