A leading fruit machine supplier has taken steps to reassure pub landlords over the illegal gambling scam revealed in last week's Evening Press.

York Coin and Leisure, who supply machines to nearly 300 pubs in the area, have been swamped by calls from concerned landlords over the scam, which can net professional gamblers up to £25,000 a year by using an illegal 'refill key'.

The company, which also provides pubs with quiz machines, jukeboxes and pool tables, will be contacting the makers of the main fruit machine used in the scam to ask them to change a mechanism to stop the refill keys working.

"Although this scam does give these gamblers an edge over average players it will not affect the payouts of the machines," said owner David Elliott.

"The key simply allows the gambler to know how much money is in the machine, but it doesn't alter the level of payout whatsover.

"I am going to contact the makers to explain to them the situation and the steps that can be taken to prevent these keys working."

He added that any pub landlord concerned about the use of the keys in the machines should contact their supplier who may able to disable the device.