The UK government has launched a review of gambling machines in response to campaigners calling for a reduction of the maximum stakes on fixed-odds betting terminals from £100 to £2.
Minister Tracey Crouch announced the call for evidence on the review of gaming machines and social responsibility to the House of Commons.
Crouch said the review would be considering:
· Evidence on the appropriate maximum stakes and prizes for gaming machines across all premises licensed under the Gambling Act 2005.
· The number and location of gaming machines across all licensed premises.
· The social responsibility measures to protect players from gambling-related harm, including whether there is evidence on the impacts of gambling advertising and whether the right rules are in place to protect children and vulnerable people.
The review will include a close look at issues surrounding FOBT machines and specific concerns about harm they may cause to vulnerable players and their communities.
Crouch said that in launching this review she wanted to ensure that the legislation “strikes the right balance” between allowing the industry to contribute to the economy and protect communities.
John White, CEO of BACTA, the British amusement industry trade association, welcomed the announcement, seeing it as an opportunity to make positive changes to legislation for other machines.
“It gives us the opportunity to make the very strong case that we have for increases in stakes and prizes across a range of other categories that our members operate and one has to say that it’s about time,” said White.
He believes that the review could lead to a healthier gambling industry but hopes this will also mean a loosening of some of the restrictions.
“We are the only industry that I can think of whose prices are fixed by law,” he said. “Whenever there’s an increase in cost we can’t pass that cost on.”
He said this dynamic was “clearly unsustainable” and that the industry needs more “movement in order to let us innovate and change and develop our business”.
Marc Etches, CEO of Responsible Gambling Trust said that while research into gambling advertising is limited, it is the industry’s responsibility to prove that it isn’t increasing harm by normalising harmful gambling. “And all those who profit from such advertising should meet their responsibility to contribute to the cost of treatment for problem gambling,” he said.
“We also need to remember that everyone is carrying a 'gaming machine' in their pocket these days, on their phone," he added.
He said the RGT will be contributing existing and new research to the DCMS review and “look forward to the conclusions based on such evidence”.
The call for evidence period will close on December 4, following which the government will consider proposals based on the evidence provided to assist in its decisions.
