UK boosts gaming crackdown

UK government expressed its support on national crackdown on fixed-odds betting terminals.

UK.- The government of the United Kingdom is ready to carry out the major crackdown on gaming industry. As authorities have promised earlier this year, fixed-odd betting machines’ operations will be regulated by new conditions soon. The government considers FOBTs as “crack cocaine of gambling.”

FOBTs operations have been denounced for months, but the plans to hold the crackdown was delayed due to general elections. Last week, the controversy grew as a local newspaper suggested the government would not want to reduce FOBTs operations, as they could be profitable for the state’s funds.

However, Deputy leader Tom Watson responded that representatives of Labour party and Tories will join forces to reduce the maximum FOBTs wager from £100 to £2. “I am confident that between us, we have the numbers in Parliament to curb these addictive machines and the social and health problems which come with them,” said Watson to Karen Bradley, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, according to the Daily Mail. “I urge you to hold firm in your struggle with the Treasury on this.”

Furthermore, Watson ended the profitability rumours by explaining that the £400 million FOBTs generate for the Treasury surpass the £1.2 billion the government invests in helping problem gambling residents in issues related to health, crime and homelessness.