Closing arcades is making British seafronts look "unhappy" and is taking away the symbols of fun associated with the coast, it has been claimed.
The British Amusement Catering Trade Association (BACTA) maintained that over the course of the past six months 150 arcades have closed up and down the country.
Nick Harding, the president of the BACTA, said this makes the resorts look shut down.
"Sometimes people think that these are just funny little amusement arcades, [but] right through Victorian times with the penny machines they've been a really key part of that industry," he added.
Mr Harding concluded that it is no longer as much fun in Blackpool now half the arcades are closed.
According to BACTA, the industry has suffered especially since the introduction of the Gambling Act.
Small business insurance customers could be interested to learn that this has caused an annual loss of pub machine income amounting to £31m since 2002.
