Gamblers can exclude themselves from betting shops under a new scheme to tackle addiction.

Medway Council, the Association of British Bookmakers and gambling and gaming operators in Chatham launched the pilot project this morning.

If successful, the measures will then be rolled out to shops across the Towns.

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When a customer indicates they wish to self-exclude, they will be given help by the council and encouraged to ban themselves from every participating shop in Chatham. Previously they had to ban themselves from each shop individually.

Gamblers who sign up will be asked to provide photographs and personal details which will be passed on to shop staff who will watch out for them.

The launch of the scheme follows a campaign to tackle gambling in the Towns, with particular concerns about fixed odds betting terminals – dubbed the ‘crack cocaine’ of betting.

Medway Labour leader Vince Maple, who has been involved in the campaign, said: "I welcome this pilot happening in Chatham, as any improvements to help tackle problem gambling are to be positively received.

"However as I have repeatedly said, there are still changes nationally I would want to see from the industry – in particular a reduction in the stakes on fixed odds betting terminals from their current £100 to £2 to bring them in line with other forms of gaming machines.

"I also believe there should be further powers given to local authorities to shape, with the community, their high streets and town centres to limit specific types of industry from taking over an area."

Perry Holmes, the council’s assistant director of legal and corporate services, described the schemes as “the cutting edge of promoting responsible gambling”.

He added: “We are pleased all the partners have agreed to establish a localised self-exclusion scheme in Chatham on a pilot basis and look forward to seeing how the measures contained within both the pilot and the wider agreement work to reduce gambling harm in Medway.”

The measures are designed to help people like Muhammad Jahanpanah who took betting giant Coral to court after his gambling habit cost him £250,000, his home and his marriage.

He self-excluded himself from several betting shops including Coral, Ladbrokes and William Hill. But over a 70-day period he went into Coral’s shops on 47 days, losing more than £30,000.

He sued Coral but lost the case. The judge said if Coral had kicked him out, Mr Jahanpanah would have just gone somewhere else.

Video: Reporter Jemma Collins looks at how Medway is tackling the gambling problem

Last year, the Medway Responsible Gambling Partnership was set up, consisting of representatives from the council and the gambling industry.

It meets four times a year to discuss local issues around gambling and come up with ways of fixing problems.