I am pleased to be able to report that the UK Government has decided to bring forward the reduction in the maximum stake on Fixed-Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs) to £2, which will now take place in April 2019. This will ensure that vulnerable people are protected as soon as possible.
The UK Government announced the reduction in the maximum stake on FOBTs earlier this year, as a welcome measure to tackle the social blight of these machines, which exploit some of the most vulnerable people in our society. This followed a consultation which found that a high proportion of those seeking treatment for gambling addiction identify FOBTs as their main form of gambling.
At the same time as reducing the maximum stake on FOBTs, the UK Government intends to work with the gambling industry to ensure that the maximum stake reduction is implemented in an orderly manner and with minimal disruption to the jobs of those employed in the industry.