Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Demands to limit stakes on fixed odds machines
Cllr wants laws to match rest of UK
A COUNCILLOR is calling on bookies in Northern Ireland to reduce the stakes on fixed odds machines, dubbed the “crack cocaine of gambling”.
Dr John Kyle is urging betting firms to follow the decision of Ladbrokes to do so voluntarily in line with the rest of the UK.
He is tabling the gambling addiction motion during Monday night’s full council meeting and it will be seconded by
SDLP councillor Donal Lyons. Progressive Unionist Dr Kyle said: “I think it is a really important issue for a couple of reasons. One is gambling addiction is a significant problem for quite a number of people in Northern Ireland.
“Research shows the level of problem gambling here is four times the level of what it is in England and it is significantly higher than in Scotland and Wales so within the UK we have the highest level.
“It is estimated it affects 30,000 to 40,000 people in Northern Ireland and it can have a huge impact on them and their family, on employment, quality of life, on their finances and housing.
“So it can be a massive problem for people who are affected or for whom it is an issue.
“There are very limited services or resources available for people with problem gambling, so within the NHS there are very few resources for people with this addiction, there are far more resources for drug and alcohol addiction but when it comes to problems with gambling there’s nothing and it is recognised as an addiction.”
In November last year, the UK Government confirmed a new maximum stake of £2 for fixed odds betting terminals would be implemented as of April this year, down from £100 per stake in a bid to tackle problem gambling.
However, the legislation change does not apply in Northern Ireland as the Gambling Act 2005 only caters for England, Scotland and Wales.