UKGC Publishes Advice Paper on FOBT Maximum Stakes

It’s been coming for a while, but when the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) finally filed their report advising the UK Government’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), it didn’t go as far as many in the industry had feared, and as far as many others had hoped.

Although many on both sides assumed that the advice would be for the maximum stake for fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) would be reduced to £2, but the advice from the UKGC doesn’t actually go that far.

What does it say?

The advice from the UKGC, which they claim will have a “significant effect on the potential for players to lose large amounts of money in a short space of time” does recommend that the maximum stake on FOBT slot games is reduced to the expected £2, but for other FOBTs such as roulette and poker, their advice is £30 or less as a maximum.

The report also suggested a ban on machines allowing more than one game category to be played in a single session, and that tracked play should be made mandatory over many machines.

Sustainable solutions

Speaking of the report, Neil McArthur, Chief Executive of the UKGC, said:

“We’ve put consumers at the heart of our advice – advice which is based on the best available evidence and is focussed on reducing the risk of gambling-related harm.

“In our judgement, a stake cut for Fixed Odds Betting Terminals alone doesn’t go far enough to protect vulnerable people; that is why we have recommended a stake cut plus a comprehensive package of other measures to protect consumers.

“We have proposed actions that will tackle both the risk of harm and provide solutions that are sustainable in the longer term.”

The UK Government’s official decision on what action to take is expected soon.