Maximum stake to be cut on ‘crack cocaine’ fixed-odds gambling

The maximum stake on fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) – known as the crack cocaine of gambling – is to be cut from £100 to between £50 and £2.

The high-stake, high-speed electronic casino games are said to be dangerously addictive and currently allow a stake of up to £100 every 20 seconds, enabling a player to theoretically gamble away £18,000 an hour.

Bookmakers fear the plan, part of a package of measures announced in the Government’s gambling review, will not work and will have a negative impact on the high street, causing job losses and “ruining the lives of the thousands of employees”.

But others believe it does not go far enough, describing it as “deeply disappointing” and raising concerns that the process is taking too long.

Culture minister Tracey Crouch said: “It is vital we strike the right balance between socially-responsible growth and protecting the most vulnerable, including children, from gambling-related harm.”

Raising standards of player protection for online gambling, a responsible gambling campaign and new advertising guidelines are among a raft of suggestions designed to help minimise the risk to vulnerable people and children.

Strengthening the code on responsible gambling advertising and responsible gambling initiatives are also being considered.

A 12-week consultation is being launched on the proposals, which are aimed at reducing the potential for large losses on the machines.

Malcolm George, chief executive of the Association of British Bookmakers, said the Government has “some intelligent ideas”.

But he told BBC Breakfast: “They’ve looked at the evidence that was submitted last year, and they haven’t come down with a firm view because actually the evidence around cutting stakes doesn’t necessarily suggest you’re going to help problem gamblers.

“The risk for the industry as a whole is that you simply move a problem gambler from one environment into another, into an arcade, into a casino, into online.”