The Government of the UK has agreed to consider the chance of entitling Wales with the power to restrict the number of fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) amid the concerns regarding high stakes betting machines that have been raised lately.
Despite the fact that gambling matters are not issues that can be delegated, the UK Government has been urged to reconsider the situation and provide the local government with the above-mentioned opportunity. Currently, all gambling matters are a prerogative of the centralised government, although responsibilities regarding high-stakes machines have been delegated to Scotland.
The Office Minister of Wales Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth commented on the situation after some protest in the House of Lords at the time when peers debated the Wales Bill over its committee stage, saying that he would address the matter to the country’s government. He explained that the Government of the UK had not considered the matter so far due to the fact that the latter was not included in the Silk Commission’s report regarding delegation, which was why it was not brought to discussion over the St David’s Day process on future devolution.
As a result of the above-mentioned protests, an amendment to the Wales Bill allowing the local competent authorities to have the right to control and restrict the number of fixed-odds betting terminals has been formally presented for discussion and consideration by the labour peer and AM Baroness Morgan.
The latter explained that a large number of people, who were often vulnerable to such influences, found attractive the chance to get high payouts amounting to up to £500. According to her, high-stakes machines had become “a huge problem” in communities that were unable to cope with small investments and high unemployment at the same time, which had resulted in making the problem of gambling more serious than the one related to any other form of betting.
The fixed-odds betting terminals available in betting shops in the UK allow players to bet on the outcome of a great variety of casino games or events that feature fixed odds. They were first introduced to British punters 15 years ago and currently offer them the chance to place a maximum bet of £100, although the country’s gambling industry had voluntarily introduced a limit of £50. The maximum prize available for winning amounts to £500.
Lately, the competent authorities in the UK have expressed their concern related to fixed-odds betting terminals and the eventual harm these machines could inflict to children and vulnerable people. Last month, the Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) published a review aimed at gaming machines and social responsibility measures aimed at reducing the negative impact of various gambling activities and social advertising. The territories of England, Scotland and Wales were subjected to the Government’s review, which has been released in regards to a number of matters.
- Author
Daniel Williams
