The Association of Local Governments (ALG) is advocating for tighter regulations on Fixed Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs), the highly addictive gambling devices present in betting establishments throughout the United Kingdom. They are urging a significant decrease in the highest wager, from £100 to a mere £2, asserting that this will aid in mitigating compulsive gambling. This mirrors the requests of the “Movement for Equitable Gaming” who have long rallied against the harmful impacts of FOBTs. The ALG, representing local authorities across England and Wales, desires the government to promptly reevaluate the existing maximum bet. They also suggest a marginally elevated cap of £5 for FOBTs situated within casinos. This follows the UK government’s decision last July to maintain the highest stake, despite extensive apprehension. Nevertheless, new rules enacted in April now mandate players to either directly deposit funds into the machine with staff oversight or utilize an account for wagers surpassing £50. Moreover, the ALG is promoting the execution of cumulative impact evaluations. This would authorize local councils to decline applications for new betting shops in zones already densely populated with gambling establishments. They further desire licensing regulations to factor in the well-being and societal ramifications linked to problem gambling when reviewing applications.
City council representative, Simon Blackburn, the head of the Safer and Stronger Communities Board within the Local Government Association (LGA), has voiced apprehensions regarding the significant density of wagering establishments and their fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) on main thoroughfares throughout Britain. He underscored the anxieties of municipal governments who perceive a lack of authority in limiting their rapid increase.
Blackburn stressed the monetary hazards linked to FOBTs, noting that “individuals have the potential to forfeit up to £100 in a single wager on these devices,” and numerous patrons are simply ill-equipped to manage such defeats. He advocated for a reevaluation of the regulations governing these machines.
Addressing these apprehensions, the Association of British Bookmakers (ABB), an industry body representing the betting sector, defended wagering establishments as “the most secure location to engage in gambling.” They emphasized their cooperative efforts with local authorities and the LGA on various matters and community projects.
This discourse arises following the government’s determination last July to retain the current stakes and payouts for gaming machines. At that juncture, the government contended that local authorities already possessed adequate power to oversee wagering establishments on their high streets through the licensing procedure.
Statistics from the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) indicate that as of March 2015, there was an average of 34,552 B2 gaming machines (excluding horse racing) across the UK, yielding a gross gambling revenue of £1.66 billion.
Independent studies commissioned by the UKGC determined that in 2015, 0.5% of gamblers in the UK were categorized as problem gamblers, a figure largely aligning with the preceding two years.
In March of 2015, the United Kingdom had 8,819 wagering establishments, with each permitted a ceiling of four “slot machines” offering a highest payout of £500. On this Tuesday evening, the UK’s legislative body will convene at Westminster to deliberate on the matter. Presentations will be given by the Chief Executive Officer of ABB, Malcolm George, the Director of Regulatory Affairs for William Hill Group, Andrew Lyman, and the Chairman of Scotbet, John Heaton.
