A cut in the maximum amount of cash that can be inserted into Fixed-Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs)is to be imposed by the government to ease concern about the high-stakes electronic devices. Under the new rules, anyone using a FOBT – often called the crack cocaine of gambling – will need to inform staff if they want to bet more than £50 cash at a time. Gamblers would also have the alternative of getting an online account so that spending can be tracked, following an assessment released by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). Until now the controversial electronic…

The British government has announced that local councils are to be given more powers to decide whether more UK betting shops should open in their individual constituencies. UK public-service broadcaster the BBC said the new measures would enable councils to refuse planning application if they are concerned about the number of shops in their local area. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport explained that local authorities are becoming increasingly concerned about the “clustering” of betting shops in some areas and the new measures would help to counter the situation. However, bookmakers have previously said that the number of shops…

The Guardian – Amid criticism bookmaker vows to link executive pay to targets tackling issue and set up a board committee to investigate policy Ladbrokes will seek to calm the row over the lucrative fixed-odds gambling machines in high-street bookies this week with a vow to link executive pay to targets on tackling problem gambling. The bookmaker also plans to set up a board committee to investigate responsible gambling policies as it responds to widespread criticism of machines dubbed the “crack cocaine of gambling” by campaigners. Ladbrokes has written to the minister responsible for gambling, Helen Grant, and industry stakeholders…