Councils across London have refused to give up their fight against betting machines dubbed the 'crack cocaine of gambling'.

Their calls to cut the maximum stake on fixed odds betting terminals (FOBT) from £100 to £2 were rejected by the government earlier this year.

But the Local Government Association this week announced it is challenging the government's decision.

It has resubmitted its demand for the maximum spend per spin to be slashed, on behalf of 93 local authorities across the country, including 31 in London, led by Newham Council.

getwestlondon reported earlier this year that gamblers in Westminster alone lost £25 million on the slot machines last year.

Hounslow Council has said it seems "absurd" that someone can risk so much on a game in which they have no human contact.

The Campaign for Fairing Gambling (CFC), which is backing the appeal, says there are around 35,000 such machines across the country and estimates one in three players are addicted.

A spokeswoman for the organisation said: "The government keeps pushing back against councils, and even the Scottish Executive, who all want urgent action to deal with the scourge of these £100 a spin machines.

"Despite promising to take a 'proper look' at FOBTs the government has blocked a review, said no to the 93 councils and handed Scotland very limited powers to deal with them.

"Scotland this week has said enough is enough and called for them to be banned and now Councils in England and Wales are saying the same to David Cameron and his government. It’s time to act."

There are 2,016 FOBTs across west London, CFC estimates.

The government rejected the previous call to reduce the maximum stake in July. It said it was not convinced local authorities had made the most of existing powers to impose licensing conditions on betting shops.

The 31 London councils backing the new call include Brent, Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham, Harrow, Hillingdon, Hounslow, and Kensington and Chelsea.