Gloucester MP Richard Graham has today welcomed the Government announcement that they will be capping the maximum stake on B2 gaming machines (also known as Fixed Odds Betting Terminals - FOBTs) from £100 to £2. Richard has been campaigning for the change after meeting constituent Hussain Vorajee and researching more about the gamblers, their financial situations and the impact of the typical losses from FOBT gambling. “The idea that these high stakes are somehow like a harmless bingo outing for the community was and is a con.”
Richard said, "this is to protect people from the negative side of FOBTs, which can involve large sums of money spent and lost very fast, often by people who can least afford to. This can cause family pressures and sometimes breakdowns, loss of job and income, both with dire social consequences. Of course no one is forced to gamble, but there are many who are vulnerable to different forms of addiction and all too often not remotely able to deal with the consequences. So I'm delighted that we are implementing this change and others who enjoy mild and affordable gambling can continue to do so."
The announcement follows a government consultation on gaming machines and social responsibility measures. Minister for Sport and Civil Society Tracey Crouch MP said, "when we announced this review, we made clear our purpose was to strike a balance between socially responsible growth and protecting the most vulnerable, including children, from gambling-related harm. This has long been an issue close to my heart and in the process of this review I have visited treatment services and met with people affected by gambling addiction as well as professionals who work to treat it.
The Act was implemented under the Labour government 10 years ago. In that time we have seen significant changes to the market, to public perceptions of gambling, and to our understanding of harm across the gambling landscape. I am clear that our approach should not just be about tackling headline problem gambling rates, but about managing the risk of gambling-related harm to the player and more widely to families, friends, employers and communities."
The response will now be implemented through Parliamentary regulations with steps in place to ensure the gambling industry has time to implement the changes. The change will be linked to an increase in the Remote Gaming Duty, paid by online operators, at the next Budget in order to cover any negative impact on public finances. The response also includes changes to protections including stronger age verification rules, more research commissioned into gambling-related harm, and advertising restrictions. Find out more: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-to-cut-fixed-odds-betting-terminals-maximum-stake-from-100-to-2
