The UK Gambling Commission has noted with some regret the lack of industry-inspired data concerning gambling habits, in its submission to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport – which has responsibility for gambling in the UK.
The Commission was issuing advice to the government on the upcoming review of stakes and prizes in gambling machines, which takes place every three years and which is expected to be announced this summer for implementation in 2014.
In considering B1 machines, which comprise the machines available (maximum 20) in casinos in the UK, the Commission said that there is scope for an increase in stakes and prizes provided that there are improvements in “harm mitigation measures.”
The industry has sought increases in linked progressive jackpots from £4,000 to £50,000. The Commission suggested that the door is open to the casino industry to make a persuasive argument in favour of this increase, bearing in mind the necessity to equally put into place increased player support programmes.
On B2 machines, mostly sited in bookmakers’ shops, the Commission said there “is a serious case to answer.” This is the area in which there are “significant knowledge gaps which must be filled if case is not to become simply unanswerable.”
The Commission said that the Responsible Gambling Strategy Board was working on new data and the Commission itself was amassing information on the B2 sector. Meantime, it suggested that “it is vitally important for the betting sector to drive the development and implementation of better harm mitigation measures. The need is particularly acute in relation to B2 machines because of the potential of the high stake limit and volatility to expose even normal leisure gamblers to potentially harmful rates of loss.”
