Campaign slams Government inaction on FOBTs
In its announcement on the Triennial Review of gaming machine stakes and prizes today, the DCMS has chosen to take no action against highly addictive Fixed Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs) – the roulette machines found in betting shops.
Derek Webb, founder of the Campaign for Fairer Gambling, who runs the Stop the FOBTs Campaign, said: “This is a ridiculous decision. It was a prime opportunity for the Government to exercise the precautionary principle and reduce the stakes on these addictive machines from £100 to £2, bringing them in line with all other British gaming machines.”
“There is mounting empirical and anecdotal evidence that FOBTs are driving the proliferation of betting shops, contributing to problem gambling, causing crime and violence in local communities, impacting on the working conditions of betting shop staff and being used for criminal activities such as money laundering.”
The Campaign submitted a consultation to the Triennial Review in April, presenting significant evidence that FOBTs are in breach of the three licensing objectives set out in the Gambling Act 2005. Since then the Campaign has commissioned a poll of betting shop customers in Newham, identifying that 87% viewed FOBTs as addictive.
The idea that further research, as relied upon by DCMS to delay taking action, will give any more insight is baseless as this research is not dedicated to understanding FOBT problem gambling.
Derek Webb, concluded: “The Gambling Commission, an unelected quango of career administrators, should not be trusted by DCMS. The Gambling Commission, working with the Responsible Gambling Trust and the Responsible Gambling Strategy Board, are all complicit in keeping this highly addictive product on our high streets and protecting the bookmakers’ vested interests.”
