Curbing the Addiction: Local Governments Push for Stricter Betting Regulations

The Association of Local Governments (ALG) is advocating for stricter regulations on Fixed Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs), the highly habit-forming gaming machines commonly located in bookmakers’ shops. They are proposing a significant decrease in the highest wager, from £100 to a mere £2, asserting that this will safeguard susceptible individuals from gambling-associated detriment. This mirrors the requests of the “Movement for More Equitable Gaming,” an organization that has long championed stricter oversight.

Although the government resolved last July to retain the present maximum bet, new regulations implemented in April mandate that individuals desiring to wager over £50 on these devices must either lodge funds with personnel or utilize an account, introducing an additional tier of supervision.

The ALG’s efforts don’t cease there. They also aim to implement a “collective impact evaluation” to comprehend the density of gaming establishments within a region. This would empower local councils with greater authority to decline new betting shop applications in areas already densely populated with them. Furthermore, they are requesting that licensing regulations consider the well-being and societal ramifications of problematic gambling when assessing applications, guaranteeing that the genuine expense of gambling is incorporated into these judgments.

City council member, Simon Blackburn, a proponent of secure and thriving neighborhoods, voiced a shared apprehension among municipalities regarding the high density of fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) and wagering establishments on main thoroughfares. He noted that local authorities feel impotent due to their limited authority over the quantity of these venues. He stressed the gravity of the situation, stating that individuals can rapidly lose substantial sums of money on FOBTs, resulting in unaffordable financial setbacks for many, and underscored the pressing need to reassess current regulations.

The Association of British Bookmakers (ABB), acting on behalf of the betting shop sector, defended its stance by asserting that betting shops are the most secure environment for gambling activities. They emphasized their robust cooperative partnership with local councils and the LGA, addressing a range of concerns and community-based programs.

In July of the preceding year, the government opted to retain the stakes and payouts of gaming machines, contending that local authorities already possess adequate power to oversee the number of betting shops through the licensing procedure.

Statistics published by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) disclosed that as of March 2015, a considerable number of non-remote B2 gaming machines were operational across the UK, generating a substantial amount of income.

Moreover, the UKGC’s findings indicated that a minor proportion of gamblers in the UK were categorized as problem gamblers in 2015, a figure that remained relatively constant compared to the two years prior.

In early 2015, the UK had 8,819 licensed wagering establishments. Every location is presently restricted to no more than four gambling devices, each with a maximum payout ceiling of £500. This matter will be debated in Parliament at Westminster today (Tuesday). Testifying before the body will be sector representatives such as Malcolm George, Chief Executive of the Association of British Bookmakers, Andrew Lyman, Director of Regulatory Matters at William Hill, and John Heaton, who heads Scotbet.