Campaign to join MPs to prevent status quo on roulette machines
Representatives from the Stop the FOBTs Campaign will join Tom Watson MP and other Members of Parliament on Wednesday 4th December on the House of Commons Green to raise awareness of roulette machines in betting shops and to call for a reduction in the maximum stake to £2.
In a recent consultation into gaming machine stakes and prizes, which included Fixed Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs) alongside all other gaming machines, the Government has recommended keeping the max stake on betting shop roulette machines at £100, rather than adopting the precautionary principle and reducing the stake to £2.
Derek Webb, founder of the Campaign for Fairer Gambling, behind the Stop the FOBTs Campaign, said: “Despite empirical evidence of the addictive nature of FOBTs being submitted to the Triennial Review, the Department of Culture, Media Sport has so far decided to maintain the status quo, after the Gambling Commission failed to include that evidence in its advice.
“The Campaign hopes that raising awareness on Wednesday, will encourage MPs to vote against the implementation of these recommendations and that the “proper look” at FOBTs promised by the Prime Minister last month will be forthcoming.”
Labour MP Tom Watson, said: “FOBTs have been described as the "crack cocaine" of gambling. They're a menace to every High Street. The government has it in their power to act. We hope to persuade them this is now an urgent matter.”
