Published on 27th April 2016 by Andrew Mills

The UK’s Local Government Association (LGA) has reiterated its call to the UK government to cut the maximum stake on fixed-odds betting machines (FOBTs).The LGA also urged the government to allow local councils to take problem gambling and anti-social behaviour concerns into account when considering shop applications.

Current maximum

Punters in the UK currently have the ability to wager up to £100 on FOBTs, but many groups are calling for the maximum to be lowered by a large amount, to £2.The LGA has upheld these demands, saying that the maximum should be lowered to £2 FOBT machines in high street shops and £5 in casinos. The LGA has also called for the introduction of cumulative impact tests to allow councils to refuse applications for new betting shops in areas where these is already a cluster of shops.With the last assessment of gaming machine stakes in the UK occurring in January 2013, the LGA claims that a triennial review is now due.

Significantly out of line

Cllr Simon Blackburn, chair of the LGA’s ‘Safer and Stronger Communities Board spoke on the issues, saying:“The higher stakes permitted on FOBTs is significantly out of line with other high street gambling machines and the harm and anti-social behaviour they can cause has become an issue of growing national concern.“A triennial review of machine stakes is overdue, and with two-thirds of MPs calling for tougher regulation of FOBTs, we urge the government to honour its previous commitment and launch a review of stakes at the earliest opportunity.”He added:“Councils are not anti-bookies but a new cumulative impact test would give them the power to veto new shops – and FOBTs – in areas already saturated by betting shops.”