ENCOURAGING noises have come from the Treasury this week in favour of clamping down on ‘Fixed Odds Betting Terminals’ on the high street – dubbed the “crack cocaine” of gambling.
Fixed odds betting terminals allow a stake of up to £100 to be placed every 20 seconds, which according to the Gambling Commission has led to 1.45 million people being placed at risk of addiction.
If the Government is serious about this it must back our campaign to lower the betting stake to £2.
Statistics show that almost £6 million has been lost in Oldham to FOBTs. Across Greater Manchester the figure is over £73 million.
It’s the abundance and convenience of fixed odds betting terminals which means that it is easy for people to get drawn in, addicted, and exploited.
To limit their use there needs to be better restrictions in place. This isn’t about being a nanny state, telling people what they can and cannot do. But it is about making sure that people aren’t exploited. With the right protections in place we can ensure a balance between customer enjoyment, and protecting the high street and vulnerable people.
So I’m encouraged by the possibility of the Government taking action – I hope they stick to this and also fully back our campaign to lower the stake to £2.
Jim McMahon OBE MP 