Potential William Hill Store Closes in Burton, Swadlincote, Uttoxeter and More After FOBT Crackdown

The news of the limit on fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) having been cut from £100 down to £2 has sent shockwaves through certain parts of the industry, with bookmakers and sports betting operators being the most vocal critics of the decision.

While the decision has been heralded by many as an important step in the fight against problem gambling, operators warn of multiple store closures that could occur as a result.

William Hill

One of the bookmakers that has stated the most risk of store closures is William Hill, who have claimed that the FOBT crackdown could result in up to 900 shop closures across the country, leading to the loss of up to 4,500 jobs.

A huge pre-tax half-year loss of £820 million recently reported by William Hill has been blamed by the UK bookmaker on regulatory complications in the UK and the US markets, the latter of which William Hill is attempting to get to the top of the pile in after the recent legalisation of sport betting in the States.

The stores that have been mentioned as being at risk of closing down include popular William Hill shops in Burton, Swadlincote, and Uttoxeter, but the company claim that the damage is likely to go much further than that.

FOBTs

The reduced rate is yet to be brought in on FOBTs, which still allow customers to bet up to £100 every 20 seconds, but when the change comes in, assuming it does and that the attempts by operators to stop it are unsuccessful, there are clear and genuine fears amongst bookmakers.

Advocates of the decision claim that the human impact of not reducing the stake would be far greater than the possible job losses as a result of it, but this is a debate that will continue.