The Scottish National Party (SNP) is to face a special conference demand on the matters of the betting shops reduction in the region along with the Glasgow Southside Constituency Association. This happens at a time when the UK Government and local regulatory authorities have expressed their increasing concerns related to the popularity of betting outlets and more specifically of Fixed Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs).
The conference project proposition came in an attempt to bolster measures imposed on bookmakers in order to prevent them from opening new betting shops in the region.
The matters related to problem gambling and betting behaviour in the regions have become more intimidating lately, especially after a new study showed that Glasgow punters have spent about £1 billion on betting shop machines. Although the number of betting outlets has been recently reduced due to regulatory measures, increased competition and constantly rising popularity of online betting websites, the customers’ interest towards them remains high to date.
This is exactly why Scottish councils now demand to be granted to be given more rights to narrow down the gambling activities in the region and prevent them from expanding any further. Such a conference could end up with the delegates trying to set a new order and hierarchy when it comes to making and bringing to action new laws on gambling and betting activities in each community.
Local authorities hope that if such new legislation is implemented, it would help them prevent bookmakers in the region from grouping in the so-called “clusters.” Lately, various UK authorities and organisations have issued warnings about the negative impact of betting shops on local communities and players, which lead to the Government’s plans to consider imposing more serious scrutiny to the industry operations.
If there is a loophole in the gambling legislation, getting a special permission for opening a betting outlet would not be needed from local bookmakers in case the premises have been previously used for “financial or professional services.”
Last year, local authorities expressed their concerns over the situation in Scotland. Although the number of independent bookmakers in the region was reduced thanks to the increased competition of the bigger chains, tighter regulatory rules and players’ migration to online betting websites, the popularity of retail betting outlets remained high.
The economic conditions in the region could have been found as pretty tough by independent bookmakers, but in October 2015, the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) reported that about 65% of the adults in England and Scotland have participated in gambling activities.
- Author
Daniel Williams
