Fixed-odds betting terminals to be reviewed

THE rules governing controversial betting machines in High Street bookmakers will be reviewed by the government.

Fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs), which have been dubbed the “crack cocaine” of gambling, allow punters to stake up to £100 every 20 seconds.

The review could see that maximum stake reduced to as little as £2 if the machines are found to be causing harm.

A Department for Culture, Media and Sport spokesman said: “We will continue to monitor the effectiveness of existing gambling controls and will take further action if necessary.”

Critics of the machines have claimed they are based disproportionately in poorer areas and can be used by criminals as a way of laundering dirty cash.

In April councils called for the £100 maximum stake on FOBTs to be brought in line with other gaming machines on the high street, where the top stake is £2, or casinos, where it is £5.

A spokesman for the Association of British Bookmakers said: “While 99.5% of the adult population gamble responsibly, for those who do develop gambling problems it is rarely, if ever, limited to just one form of gambling.

“Fixed-odds betting terminals have been played in betting shops for over 15 years, and yet problem gambling levels have remained relatively stable before and after their introduction, at 0.5% of the population.”