UK is not discussing future of FOBTs

The debate on FOBTs regulated operations was delayed due to general elections in the UK.

UK.- After the general election in the UK, officials decided to delay the discussion on new gaming regulations to October. The government is set to present a fresh framework to regulate the casino industry, with special focus on fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs), which are highly rejected among local officials.

“Although we launched the review in October 2016, purdah interrupted the final stages of our consideration of the evidence received and the subsequent internal cross-government process of approval and sign off. Therefore, I’m afraid we are back at the start of that process and as a consequence of that taking at least 12 weeks, I would not expect any further announcement until October at the earliest,” Chatham and Aylesford MP, and parliamentary under-secretary for culture, media and sport, Tracey Crouch told the House of Commons, according to Kent News.

British authorities have been implementing harsh policies against the gaming industry. In the last six month, operators and bookmakers have been under a federal probe to register, measure and approve stricter rules this year. However, as the Prime Minister has called for a vote by mid-year, the current officials will have to wait until next autumn to decide how to continue the discussion.

The results of the government’s probe were supposed to be released in a few months, according to the plans of the UK Department for Culture, Media & Sport. Authorities have targeted fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) and gaming advertising. Latest probe has jeopardised millionaire revenues as well as tens of thousands of employees. 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.