Students’ union gets rid of gambling machines

DUSA move follows concerns over student welfare

Dundee University Students Association (DUSA) has removed all gambling machines from its students’ union.

It will no longer house fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) after a vote by the DUSA student representative council.

It said it was approached by several students who, after conducting extensive research, believed the machines to be highly detrimental to the financial and personal welfare of users.

All four FOBTs have been removed by DUSA, believed to be one of the first UK university student unions to do so.

The machines, which feature highly addictive games such as roulette, have attracted fierce criticism as they allow punters to spend up to £100 per spin.

Caroline Goodliffe, DUSA vicepresident of student welfare, said: “Listening to concerns raised by students, a motion was brought forward to our student representative council who voted to remove the FOBTs.

“To ensure that DUSA continues to provide a safe environment for all of our members these machines have now been removed and will not be returning.

“Today’s students study in an everincreasing high-pressure environment, where habits and addictions can easily form.

“DUSA are committed to providing a venue which looks out for their welfare.”

She urged any students who feel they are struggling with addiction to seek help from local services.

“We hope other venues in Dundee can take the same action to provide a citywide approach towards the growing gambling problem,” she added.

The Gambling Commission, the industry regulator, recently recommended stakes on roulette-style FOBTs be cut to £30 or below.

However, this has yet to be introduced.

Tom Watson, Labour’s deputy leader and a prominent opponent of FOBTs, said the limits do not go far enough and claimed the commission “caved into industry pressure”.

Caitlin Kavanagh, a third-year biological sciences student who led the campaign, said: “The removal of the fixed-odd betting machines is not only important for DUSA but an important start for the students of Dundee.

“As a member of the facilities subcommittee that took this motion forward, I am incredibly happy that we were able to make this difference and we hope to be able to continue on this work in the future.”

DUSA is regularly voted one of the UK’s best student unions, and features bars, cafés and a nightclub.

Picture: PA. DUSA has removed fixed-odds betting terminals after listening to concerns raised by students.