British lawmakers protest over FOBTs regulation

The “unjustified” delay over the FOBTs’ maximum stakes cut has legislators bound to rebel against PM Theresa May.

UK.- A major reduction over the fixed odds betting terminals (FOBTs) maximum stakes was approved recently in the UK but hasn’t been enforced yet. The delay has been branded as “unjustified” by several politicians and has even generated a potential rebellion against Prime Minister Theresa May.

Several politicians reacted to sports minister Tracey Crouch’s resignation in protest over the ‘unjustified’ delay on the reduction of maximum stakes on FOBTs. Labour deputy leader Tom Watson said he would support a rebel amendment to the Finance Bill that could be pushed to pressure ministers to bring forward its implementation.

“This issue is not over. There is very great concern from all sides of the House, including the Conservatives, the DUP, Lib Dems and Labour, to make the Government adhere to the commitment they made in May,” Mr Watson stated and added: “This means that if the amendment to the Finance Bill is moved by senior Conservatives like Iain Duncan Smith, it will have our full support.”

It was expected that the legislation was due to come in by April 2019 but has been pushed to October, which has sparked more controversy than there already was. Should conservative MPs rebel against Theresa May, the PM could end up facing a defeat in the Commons.