Asylum seekers ‘gambling away tax-payer funded cash cards’ meant for food and clothing ‘on slot machines and casinos ’Over 6,000 asylum seekers have used government-issued cards loaded with £50 a week at betting shops and casinos.

The pre-paid cards are supposed to be used on essential items Pre-paid cards given out to pay for basics including food and clothing are being used in gambling venues, Home Office data reveals.

While attempts to gamble online using the cards had been made, they were blocked each time so they were forced to use them in physical sites, as reported by PoliticsHome.

This is because they can only be activated by using the chip and pin.

There are currently around 80,000 ASPEN card users in the UK.

Shadow home secretary Chris Philp told PoliticsHome: “It is shocking that over 6,000 illegal immigrants have attempted to use hard-working British taxpayers’ money to gamble.