Backbench Tories go off-message supporting bookmakers in the FOBT scandal

In last month’s House of Commons Opposition Debate on local authority powers and betting shops, the usual Conservative suspects jumped out of the stalls to defend the bookmakers and their Fixed Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs).

Dame Angela Watkinson, MP for Hornchurch and Upminster, spoke about a pleasant visit to a betting shop, which she claimed was more like a coffee shop. This snap-shot of one hour in one shop - probably on the bookmaker’s recommended list of best shops to visit - does not provide any clues as to how FOBTs generate over £1.5 billion per year and who they generate it from.

Dr Therese Coffey, MP for Suffolk Coastal, referred to bwin.party funded secondary research based on the 2007 British Gambling Prevalence Survey, falsely claiming that the research did not support the Campaign view. Dr Coffey quoted caveats and comments that dilute the conclusion. The danger of all industry-funded research, whether in the tobacco sector or in the current B machine research that DCMS is relying on, is that caveats and comments are relied on to hide the evidence. Simply FOBTs are the most addictive form of gambling.

John Whittingdale, MP for Maldon, speaking about FOBTs, claimed that: "it is virtually impossible to lose hundreds of pounds as the majority of the money one puts in comes back out again". Mr Whittingdale may have unwittingly been watching money-launderers doing their business on FOBTs. If he understood FOBTs, he would be aware that around 18.5% of all cash deposited on FOBTs is retained by bookmakers.

Mr Whittingdale also agreed with Mr Davies, MP for Shipley, that the strongest growth is taking place online. He is probably unaware that remote casinos and slots only generate about 28% of the gross revenues generated by FOBTs. On the basis of their concerns about online gambling, it is only right to presume that both these MPs will take a strong position to control remote gambling in the coming debate on the Remote Gambling Bill.

The public is now really interested in politicians’ salaries, politicians’ expenses and commercial lobbying. Surely the time has come for politicians to cease enjoying freebies - whether above the reporting threshold or not - and particularly from controversial sectors. An excellent article in the Observer explains that it's time to call time on the far-right philosophy of supporting corporate interests regardless of the cost to the big society.
And at a senior level it is certain that there is a realisation that being in bed with the bookmakers on the FOBT issue is politically toxic. The Prime Minister took the high ground at recent PMQs, when offering to work with Ed Milliband.

Helen Grant MP, the minister responsible for gambling at DCMS, is however becoming more involved in understanding FOBTs. Hosting a problem gambling round table, attended by CampaignConsultant Matt Zarb-Cousin, Ms Grant sounded as though she would take a far stronger line in dealing with the bookmakers than any previous DCMS minister has so far.

The Campaigneagerly awaits the outcome of her recent meeting with the bookmakers to see if they will provide a live terminal for independent research to give an objective perspective to FOBT specific research.