Fixed odds betting terminals (FOBTs) were raised in the House of Commons yesterday when Culture Minister Hugh Robertson said that there appeared to be little evidence that they caused serious problems.
The machines, used in betting shops, were called “the crack cocaine of gambling” by one MP in a debate. The Minister rejected the idea of new laws to restrict the machines or the shops where they are located, but promised to do so if there was fresh evidence that they cause problems. A recent select committee had recommended that local authorities should be able to permit more than the current maximum of four machines in each shop.
But lobby group Campaign for Fairer Gambling has called for a total ban on the machines, stating that they attract problem gamblers.
In the Commons debate the Minister said that the Responsible Gambling Trust is carrying out an investigation into the use of machines and problem gambling and any new laws would be based on research.
“This is one of those quite tricky areas where common sense suggests that there is a major problem, but there is a lack of evidence to back this up,” he said.
