Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Alex Rowley has raised concerns in the Scottish Parliament over the decision of the Gambling Commission to refuse to adopt a maximum stake of £2 on fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs).
Dubbed the “crack cocaine” of gambling, FOBTs allow gamblers in high street betting shops to bet up to £100 per spin every 20 seconds on casino style games such as roulette.
The Labour MSP has raised a motion in the Scottish Parliament calling for support to adopt a maximum stake of £2 for these type of machines.
Mr Rowley said:
“Problem gambling has the potential to ruin lives, and not just of the individual involved, but also of their family. I have heard heart-breaking stories of people losing their jobs, their relationships, and at worst even taking their own lives because of gambling addiction.
“These machines, which are widely available in almost every high street across Scotland, can in seconds result in people losing entire months wages, and more.
“I was deeply disappointed by the Gambling Commission not adopting the recommendation to reduce the maximum stake to £2 per spin. It seems they have caved in to industry pressure, an industry which makes a vast fortune out of people’s losses.
“I urge the industry to take greater social responsibility and realise the harm they are causing to people’s lives. These machines are at the heart of the UK’s hidden epidemic of problem gambling”
Motion below from Alex Rowley MSP
Motion Number: S5M-11177
Lodged By: Alex Rowley
Date Lodged: 20/03/2018
Title: Fixed-odds Betting Terminals
Motion Text:
That the Parliament notes with concern the reported decision of the Gambling Commission to refuse to adopt a maximum stake of £2 on fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs); shares the concern of many who believe that these machines are at the heart of the UK’s hidden epidemic of problem gambling; recognises the research from Landman Economics, which found that the average FOBT user loses £192 a month, compared with the average user of machines already capped at £2 a spin losing £22; urges the industry to take greater social responsibility regarding reports that there are more FOBTs in poorer areas, and believes that the UK Government must now look at all the evidence and support the calls to adopt a maximum stake of £2 for FOBTs.
Current Support:
Kenneth Gibson, Clare Adamson, Neil Findlay, Alison Johnstone, Ash Denham, Ivan McKee, Stewart Stevenson, Claire Baker, Iain Gray, Monica Lennon, Richard Lyle, Stuart McMillan
