Crackdown on betting terminals
31st October 2017 (re-published on 2nd November following additional information on **)
The maximum stake on fixed-odds betting terminals is to be cut after the government admitted that allowing gamblers to bet up to £300 a minute was inappropriate.
In a long-awaited and lengthy review, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) minister Tracey Crouch said the government would cut the maximum bet on the machines from £100 to between £2 and £50 **.
She said the government hoped to protect the vulnerable people “exposed by the current weaknesses in protections”.
Nonetheless, the review has been criticized as not going far enough.
Labour’s deputy leader, Tom Watson, said the review was “deeply disappointing”. Shares in betting brands such as William Hill have continued to grow, indicating the review could have been harsher on the bookmakers.
Watson said Labour would tackle a “hidden epidemic” of gambling addiction with policies including implementing a ban on betting firms advertising on football shirts.
The review hasn’t been met kindly by the betting community however. The Association of British Bookmakers have warned the review will cost 20,000 jobs and slash Treasury income from machine gaming duty, worth more than £700 million last year.
“The government, and the Gambling Commission, will be paying close attention to industry progress in this area and will act accordingly,” the review promised, adding that new legislation could be passed if the commission’s powers are deemed insufficient.
The DCMS vowed to back efforts by the UK’s leading gambling charity, GambleAware, to roll out more specialist clinics to help addicts, something the organisation has said will require an increase in funding, potentially including a statutory levy on firms.
** In addition to the headline proposals to reduce maximum stakes on FOTBs, ‘Consultation on proposals for changes to Gaming Machines and Social Responsibility Measures’ seeks views on proposals covering
- maximum stakes and prizes on other categories of gaming machines permitted under the Gambling Act 2005
- the allocation of gaming machines on premises licensed under the Act
- a package of measures to reduce the risk of gambling-related harm, which include gambling advertising, online gambling, gaming machines and research, education and treatment
It also features a summary of responses to the call for evidence held in 2016 to help inform the Review.
The Credit Protection Association is a credit management company established in 1914. If you supply goods or services on credit then we can help you!
Keep up to date with the latest news by following us on social media:-
Watch the video to find out how CPA can help you
Read Our Blog – How to overcome common excuses for non-payment
Read our blog – Debt collection agency
Read our Cash Flow Advice
Read about our overdue account recovery service
Read our blog – What is credit management?
Read our blog -What is a credit management company?
Read our blog -Credit Management that works!
Read our blog – How to select a debt collection agency
click to see read about our successes
Please call us on 0330 053 9263 to discuss how CPA can help your cashflow. Alternatively, either email us or use our contact form.