UK to back down on FOBTs cap delay

The government was trying to push the maximum stake limit to be enforced in October but is soon to back down due to MPs’ pressure.

UK.- The fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) maximum stakes limit will be slashed by 98% to €2,3 after legislation was approved by the Parliament, but it’s still unclear when it will be enforced. Though the UK government planned to delay it until next October, pressure by MPs seems to have impacted its stance and forced it to back down.

The potential delay pushed more than 100 members of the Parliament from both sides of the Commons to sign amendments to force Prime Minister Theresa May to hurry the maximum stakes reduction. The major rejection by lawmakers to enforcing the FOBT cap in October may lead to a defeat in a key Budget vote, which is why the decision to push back the legislation’s enforcement may change.

“Everybody can see the immorality of the situation,” Swansea East Labour MP Carolyn Harris said and added: “I think they’ve got to… If they don’t do it of their own volition this week and we do have to take it to a vote on Tuesday, then I am very confident we will win that vote.”

MP Iain Duncan Smith said: “These proposed amendments to the Finance Bill show the sheer strength of feeling in Parliament on fixed odds betting terminals. I hope the Government now sees sense and does the right thing by bringing the FOBT stake cut date forward to April 2019.”