Half of wagers placed by lower-income Scots
Punters in Scotland bet more than £4 billion (US$6.1 billion) on fixed odds betting terminals last year, reported the Sunday Mail, including £2 billion wagered in low-income areas.
Now Scottish lawmaker Jim Murphy is calling for a dramatic cut in stakes on the machines, from £100 per spin to just £2, according to the Scottish Daily Record.
“I find it completely unacceptable that people can lose an entire week’s wages in a few minutes with these machines,” Murphy said. “Of course people can lose the same amount on the horses or dogs in a bookies, but these machines lure people in and hook them on a habit that is
becoming so destructive.”
Adrian Parkinson of the Campaign for Fairer Gambling hailed Murphy’s hardline stance. “Finally a political leader has taken the bull by the horns and has recognized the only effective way to protect communities from these machines is to cut the stake to £2 a spin,” he said. “Scotland can’t let these addictive high speed gaming machines continue to over-run our high streets. Westminster parties should take note of Scottish Labor’s decision.”
Not surprisingly, Peter Craske, spokesman for the Association of British Bookmakers, has a different take on the controversy. “Betting shop operators put responsible gambling at the heart of all we do,” he said. “Gaming machine players now can set limits on the amount they spend or time they play for. We have increased responsible gambling messages on machines and stopped all advertising of them. We work closely with the government and Gambling Commission on responsible gambling measures, and will continue to do so.” Of all wagers made, he added, only 3 percent ever reach £100.
FOBTs, dubbed the “crack cocaine of gambling,” have come under heavy fire in the U.K., prompting significant self-policing campaigns within the industry. In recent months, major bookmakers launched a major ad campaign to educate the public about the risks of problem gambling. The campaign was underwritten by Ladbrokes, William Hill, Coral and Paddy Power.
