Mail’s victory in war over ‘crack cocaine’ gambling terminals

THERESA May performed a U-turn on addictive gambling machines yesterday to head off an inevitable Commons defeat.

She gave in to growing calls to bring forward a cut in the maximum stake for fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) from £100 to only £2.

The curbs – which follow this newspaper’s passionate campaign against the ‘crack cocaine’ betting machines – will now be introduced from April, rather than October next year, as laid out by the Chancellor in his Budget last month.

There will also be extra financial help to mitigate job losses at bookmakers expected to be caused by the changes.

The U-turn comes two weeks after the resignation of sports minister Tracey Crouch, who warned the delay could lead to more deaths from problem gambling. Almost 80 MPs had signed amendments to the Finance Bill, meaning the Government was almost certain to be defeated on the issue in a vote next week.

The two amendments were signed by 23 Tory backbenchers, including seven former Cabinet ministers led by Boris Johnson and Iain Duncan Smith.

The policy change was sneaked out on the day Westminster was in a frenzy over the attempted completion of the Brexit agreement.

Miss Crouch said: ‘I am sorry my views as the minister in charge of the policy were not heard but I am delighted that the collective voice of parliamentarians, faith leaders, victims of gambling addiction and their families, Press and media commentators and many members of the public have been.

‘This is right and sensible on FOBTs and will, without doubt, reduce harm from these machines on our high streets.’

At Prime Minister’s Questions yesterday, Mrs May said: ‘I recognise the strength of feeling on this issue. I know gambling addiction can devastate lives. Our priority is making sure this change delivers the result we all want to see.’

She added: ‘The Culture Secretary will set out further details later today.’

In a written statement, Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright said: ‘The Government has listened and will now implement the reduction in April 2019.’

James Mildred, of the Care charity, said: ‘FOBTs are predominantly found clustered in economically deprived areas and it has been a huge concern that their presence there deliberately targets vulnerable people.

‘This reduction in stake will significantly decrease the harm these machines cause.’

Labour culture spokesman Tom Watson said: ‘It’s very sad that it took an honourable resignation of a good minister and a crossparty revolt to achieve the blindingly obvious and necessary reforms to FOBTs.’

He added: ‘This is a very good day for the many thousands of people whose families and communities are blighted by gambling addiction.’

Dr Alan Smith, Bishop of St Albans, said: ‘These machines have caused untold misery to thousands of people and have been linked with people taking their own lives.’

STOP THE GAMBLING PREDATORS