Glasgow “not legally able” to enforce FOBTs stake limit

The potential maximum stake limit slash for FOBTs would leave the Glasgow City Council open to legal action.

Scotland.- The British government decided to reduce the maximum stake for fixed odds betting machines (FOBTs) from £100 to £2 but the Glasgow City Council is not so sure about enforcing the measure. According to the local authority’s CEO Annemarie O’Donnel, forcing gambling shops to alter their operations could leave the government open to legal action.

“There is no legal basis for local authority officers to carry out enforcement activities in relation to gambling in Scotland,” she said and added: “It is the council’s view that any enforcement activity is more than capable of legal challenge, particularly where it leads to a premises licence review before the licensing board.”

Furthermore, she explained the City Council “supported the view that the maximum stake on machines should be reduced” but remained cautious regarding its enforcement.

A spokesman for the Association of British Bookmakers warned that shops would close if they have to reduce their maximum stakes limit and said: “We have written to Glasgow City Council with a view to working with them to promote responsible gambling and support their public health agenda, and we look forward to their response.”