iGaming Business – Three local councils have joined a list of authorities that have announced their support for an initiative to encourage the Government to restrict fixed odds betting terminals (FOBTs) in the UK.
According to a statement from the ‘Stop the FOBTs’ campaign, Fareham Council, Brighton and Hove City Council and Preston Council have all voted in favour of restricting FOBTs.
The addition of the three new councils comes shortly after Liverpool City Council and Hackney Council passed similar motions proposals last month, with the former calling for an outright ban on FOBTs.
Although the number of FOBTs per betting shop is limited to four, councils are currently restricted in their potential to control or restrict the number of betting shops in their constituency.
Many local authorities having demanded more powers to deal with FOBTs, which have been described as the ‘crack cocaine’ of gambling due to their addictiveness and the ability for players to spend up to £100 every 20 seconds on the machines.
Fareham Council voted on the Government to reduce the minimum stake on FOBTs to £2, a move that would bring them in line with machines in pubs, bingo halls and amusement arcades.
“I acted many years ago to remove the scourge of slot machines from Fareham’s chip shops, takeaways and other premises where children could use them unsupervised,” Fareham Council’s leader, Sean Woodward, said.
“Now we have the march into betting shops of the FOBTs where up to £100 can be bet every 20 seconds. They are the crack cocaine of gambling.”
Brighton Council also voted unanimously to pressure the Government into taking action, highlighting Ireland’s decision to totally ban FOBTs.
“I am really concerned about the impact FOBTs are having in Brighton and Hove, risking vulnerable people getting into debt with crime and anti-social behaviour escalating in the city as a result of these machines,” Brighton Council’s Labour councillor, Emma Daniel, said.
