The majority of the UK bookmakers had demonstrated negative reactions to a report issued by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Fixed Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs). The inquiry report called “Fixed Odds Betting Terminals – Assessing the Impact” received rather angry reactions from the Association of British Bookmakers, which even demanded for an urgent review of the report under the consideration it could have been deliberately flawed.
According to the UK bookmakers, the report has been funded by certain people that would draw benefit directly from the recommendations implemented in the report.
Currently, the maximum bet that could be made on a fixed-odds betting machine amounts to £100. According to the data presented in the report, the bet stake should be greatly reduced to £2. The amount of the betting stake was not the only recommendation made in the inquiry report. As a matter of fact, the Association of British Bookmakers also reviewed the maximum number of machines that could be located in a single betting shop.
According to industry data, the games offered by FOBTs generate an average profit of approximately £1,000 on a weekly basis. As mentioned above, the current maximum stake offered by the machines amounts to £100. the maximum payout, on the other hand, amounts to £500.
The situation with the fixed-odds betting terminals across the country has become one of the hottest topics in the UK gambling industry over the past year. The fixed-odds betting machines were previously called the “crack cocaine of gambling” and were referred as a serious problem by various organisations which are aimed at prevention of problem gambling behaviour among players.
The bookmaking industry on the territory of Great Britain already employs over 43,000 as staff. The industry has also been reported to generate more than £1 billion in taxes on an annual basis. However, betting shops across the country have been hit by various restrictions and tax increase policy, and the number of outlets closing has been constantly rising.
Speaking before the report was made public, the Chief Executive Officer of the Association of British Bookmakers (ABB) Malcolm George explained that the inquiry report actually reflected the point of view of a small group of Members of Parliament, who were against the betting shops. Mr. George also said that the group was financed by other people, who had been interested in the casino and gaming industry in the UK.
Because of that, the ABB’s CEO called for the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards to investigate the All-Party Parliamentary Group and review the report in question, which as he claimed had been made in secrecy.
- Author
Daniel Williams
