ResPublica’s Phillip Blond responds to the Government’s FOBT announcement

17^th May 2018

ResPublica warmly welcomes the Government’s decision to slash the maximum Fixed Odds Betting Terminal stake to £2, but urges them to go further

Phillip Blond, Director, ResPublica commented: “We warmly welcome the Government’s decision to slash the maximum fixed odds betting terminal (FOBTs) stake to just £2. We have been campaigning to address the problems associated with these machines, which have been described as the crack cocaine of gambling, and have ruined the lives of tens of thousands of people.”

“Often concentrated in areas of depravation, there is strong evidence that shows the spread of FOBTs has created higher levels of problem gambling, in a vicious and destructive cycle where these machines have fed and catered for ever increasing demand.

“This much needed change will bring the UK in line with other developed countries who have already taken action against FOBTs. However we would urge the Government to go further. Later this month we will be publishing two reports that set out a range of measures, which are needed to tackle Britain’s epidemic of gambling, which has seen the number of problem gamblers rocket from 280,000 in 2012 to 430,000 in 2015 and costs the taxpayer up to £1.2 billion a year.”

For media enquiries, please contact Alistair Thompson on 07970 162225.

ENDS 

Notes to editors:

The ResPublica Trust is an independent non-partisan think tank. Through research, policy innovation and programmes, ResPublica seeks to establish a new economic, social and cultural settlement.

Press enquiries to press@respublica.org.uk.

---