Betting machines need ‘tougher stake limits’
Political Correspondent CUTTING fixed odds betting machines stakes from £100 to £30 is not good enough, according to a Glasgow MP.
The Gambling Commission recommended that the UK Government should cut the maximum stake, or games like roulette, to up to £30 per play along with other measures.
However, with gamblers in Glasgow losing tens of millions of pounds a year on the machines, campaigners have called for the reduction to be much greater.
The Commission recommended on some machines that the stake is cut to £2 but on non-slot games like roulette £30 could be enough “to have a significant effect on the potential for players to lose large amounts of money in a short space of time”.
David Linden, Glasgow East SNP MP, has presented a petition from his constituents to the Prime Minister calling for stakes to be reduced to £2.
He said: “I’m incredibly disappointed that the Gambling Commission isn’t showing more teeth and supporting the overwhelming desire from the public to really cut the stakes and cut the harm.
“Quite simply, reducing the stake to £30 a shot isn’t enough, it needs to be £2. With Glasgow frittering over £30 million per year on FOBTs, we need to get this right and I fear that the Gambling Commission’s recommendation could lead to a fudge in what is a major social issue.”
Neil McArthur, Gambling Commission chief executive, said: “In our judgement, a stake cut for Fixed Odds Betting Terminals alone doesn’t go far enough to protect vulnerable people.
“That is why we have recommended a stake cut plus a comprehensive package of other measures to protect consumers.”
The betting shop industry has accepted that stakes will most likely be cut.
A spokesman for the Association of British Bookmakers said: “We fully understand that there is public concern and that there will be a stake cut to reduce the levels of losses on machines in betting shops. The Commission has also identified a number of responsible gambling measures that will benefit those experiencing problems with their gambling.
“In the interim, we remain committed to introducing further measures to address problem gambling and will continue to work with all interested parties.”