They are attractive to addicted gamblers because the wins and losses come so fast, as with all slot machines. But the gambler has to have cash in hand to play them. As with all addictions, such as alcoholism, making it harder to satisfy the craving of a few will never stop them. They'll just go to the next place to feed the addiction and/or find another source in other gambling. In a modern betting shop, you can bet on horse racing every few minutes, on meetings here and worldwide, plus there is computerised horse racing, a kind of video game, in the shop.
If he thinks that these shops proliferate in poor areas, he's probably right, but so do football pools and various lotteries flourish, since all offer a hope of escape from poverty. Shops selling cheap booze also proliferate in poor areas, offering another form of escape from reality.