Operators criticise FOBTs projects

Fixed odds betting terminals’ operations could be updated under UK’s new gaming project.

UK.- The United Kingdom government’s plan of reducing the minimum bet on fixed odd betting terminals (FOBTs) would jeopardise the business, operators argue. According to the statements, cutting the minimum stake to £2 would represent an industry’s decline of £150 million. The report was presented to the government by gaming leading companies Ladbrokes Coral, William Hill and Paddy Power Betfair.

Furthermore, an unrevealed senior executive at a gambling company told iGaming Business newspaper: “If there are four options on the table, you don’t want to count your chickens.” And added: “It’s a massive concern that £2 is still on the table, as it would close half the industry.”

The national idea is to limit gaming publicity and to reduce FOBTs maximum stakes from £100 to just £2 as the Gambling Commission published evidence that they could be harmful for players. Whilst the review was supposed to be released this summer, the date was pushed bak and the move was welcomed by opponents to the terminals as they believe that the long consultation process means that the government is getting ready to take action against FOBTs.

Fixed odds beting terminals (FOBTs) have had a ‘crack cocaine-like’ effect in Teesiders, says the Campaign for Fairer Gambling that reported gamblers in the area lost over £12 million in just one year after betting nearly £50 million across the region’s 108 betting shops. Terminals popularily described as ‘roulette machines’ allow punters to gamble a maximum £100 a spin and have been the main target of campaigners.