Punters in town lost millions
More and more communities in the United Kingdom have raised concerns about fixed-odds betting terminals, the popular gambling machines that allow players to bet up to £100 (US$149) per spin. Critics of the high-stakes machines say FOBTs contribute to compulsive gambling, and worse, allow problem gamblers to lose more money more quickly.
The latest town to join the clamor is Hartlespool, a historic community in northeastern England founded in the 7th Century A.D. According to the local newspaper, the Hartlespool Mail, borough council members have written to a government minister to express “serious concerns” about the machines. In a single year, local punters lost £2.1million on the machines, the Mail reported.
Local councils grant licenses for betting shops, but under the Gambling Act have no power to influence the number or categories of gaming machines on those premises. FOBTs “do not fall within the licensing powers of local councils,” said Councillor Trisha Lawton. “As such, their numbers cannot be controlled by their licensing policies.” For that reason, she said, the committee has appealed to the government for new legislation that would give them more power to limit the number of FOBTs that can be installed. Authorities in Hartlespool, which currently has 357 of the electronic slots, agree with the U.K. Campaign for Fairer Gambling, which wants bets reduced to just £2 a spin, like fruit machines in pubs and arcades.
