Industry News
A stupid gamble on evil machines
The government’s failure to clamp down on fixed-odds betting terminals must be down to stupidity or corruption and I’m not sure which of those I hope it is.
Which is better? Idiots or crooks? It would make a good parlour game.
It’s possible that I’ve spent more time among sick gamblers than you have (and if that’s not the case, we probably know each other). But if you’ve popped into a friendly high street bookmaker’s any time in the last 10 years, to bet on the FA Cup final or get some change for the parking meter, then you’ll have seen a “FOBT”.
A FOBT is a sort of glorified fruit machine with a choice of games (roulette, virtual sport, novelties) and a massive possible loss rate. The biggest difference between the old fruities and these devices, waved through by the Blair government of 2001, is that you can lose £500 a minute on a FOBT.
And people do.
How many times, in the year ending September 2016, do you think somebody lost more than £1,000 on one of these machines?
Have a think. We aren’t talking about rich people, glitzy casinos or friends having a big night out. We’re talking about people on their own, playing the slots on regular, trafficky, local streets. Poor people. Bored people. Sometimes desperate, sometimes ill. Lonely old men. Women with their babies locked in the car outside. The average national wage is about £25,000. How many times, over a year, do you think £1,000 or more was lost in a single gambling session, on a local high street, in these circumstances?
No. You’re wrong.
I mean, for fuck’s sake.
Let me confess: I myself have, often, lost more than £1,000 in a single gambling session. But when I’m losing £500 a minute, this is what I’m getting:
A high-end Las Vegas casino has sent a limousine to collect me from the airport. I’ve got a complimentary hotel room with a view of the iconic Vegas Strip. I’ve got free meals, free cocktails and a cabana (a sort of shady little house with loungers and a drinks cabinet) by a luxurious swimming pool.
This doesn’t make me clever. It makes me a mug. This is what casinos give you if they think you can afford to lose the money. But your man down the Kilburn High Road, losing at the exact same rate because he’s depressed, lost, stuck, sad and has nowhere else to be, gets the square root of sod all. He gets monotony, shame and kicked out at 10pm.
This guy (or girl) hasn’t opted in consciously. They never meant to get involved for those hours or play for those sums. They didn’t join a casino, they wandered into the bookies: outlets once considered cheery and welcome on British high streets because betting on horses is traditional, fun and, to a great extent, social. But in 2001, a black hole was unrolled in the middle of them. FOBTs are demons, succubi, squatting between the chemist and the bus stop like a pile of heroin on a cheese trolley.
UK city dwellers complain that there are now dozens of bookies in their nearest shopping street where there used to be one. But most don’t know why that is.
It’s because the government capped the number of FOBTs at four per shop. But these things are free money to their owners. Punters lose and lose and lose. And when they disappear, or kill themselves, or their child is taken into care and they start self-medicating with drugs instead, someone else steps blindly up to feed the monster. So, if you’re only allowed four per shop, open more shops!
What optimistic fool, no doubt some well-meaning MP or civil servant, thought up that “four max” rule? Did you think you were smarter than the bookies, love? We’ve all been there. That’s the fast route to eating cat food out of the tin.
But the latest government move can’t be about optimism. Everyone was expecting the betting cap (or possible loss) on these machines to be slashed. Labour and the Lib Dems went into the election actively promising it; the Tories hadn’t yet committed, but John Whittingdale warned the Association of British Bookmakers: “I can’t say I would be surprised if there are quite radical measures produced… You should brace yourself.”
And then, last week, Philip Hammond decided there would actually be no curb at all – because, according to a Whitehall source in the Daily Mail, the attendant loss of tax revenues would be “financially crippling”.
Is this bent or just stupid? The shops pay 25% duty on FOBTs (it’s much cheaper for them than horseracing). In return, we get an expensive rise in crime, theft and embezzlement, family breakdown, costly court proceedings and criminal damage as the machines are often smashed up. Meanwhile, many FOBT addicts are on welfare, so 100% of the money they put into the machines goes out of the Treasury and 25% comes back. Well done everybody.
Let’s say it’s not bent. The lobbying and hospitality for MPs is massive and rising, but I’d hate to suggest any impropriety. So that suggests a moronic misunderstanding of the true maths in play.
The argument is not being had on moral grounds. If our government said they were libertarians, planning to decriminalise all drugs and abolish income tax alongside this invitation to go skint in 10 minutes at teatime in the shop next to Tesco, we could have an interesting debate. We could weigh up that freedom against the depression and suicide, the abandoned children and associated crime, and really challenge ourselves.
But they argue this situation is financially profitable for us, as a nation? They think we make money from it? Jesus. That’s their understanding of economics? As professional gamblers say about chumps: I’d like to be locked up with them.
The above article written by Victoria Coren Mitchell, first appeared on The Guardian.
Industry News
Nadine Dereza Returns to Chair the ICE World Gaming Forum
Award-winning former Financial Times journalist and business broadcaster Nadine Dereza has been confirmed to chair January’s World Gaming Forum, the three-day learning, networking and knowledge sharing exchange which replaces ICE VOX.
In a career that’s seen her interview global politicians including the late Kofi Annan, Condoleezza Rice, Ban Ki-moon, Anders Fogh Rasmussen and Gerhard Schröder, Nadine will once again be applying her journalist skill set to Clarion Gaming’s sector-leading World Regulatory Briefing, Casino & Leaders Conference (formerly the ICC), and the Esports & Games Conference (formerly the Esports Betting Conference), having previously presented the final edition of ICE VOX in London.
The ICE World Gaming Forum will run Monday 20th – Wednesday 22nd January 2025 alongside the ICE and iGB Affiliate exhibitions which will be hosted for the first time at the Fira Gran Via Barcelona, one of Europe’s biggest and best-appointed venues and home to prestigious Tier 1 events including Smart City Expo, IOT World Congress, Mobile World Congress, IBTM World and Integrated Systems Europe.
Clarion Gaming’s Senior Conference Producer Damien Ashton-Wellman said: “We are delighted to have Nadine back on the team for delivering the first edition of the World Gaming Forum. Nadine was central to the success of the 2024 ICE conferences which featured over 1,210 senior decision makers from 79 countries, including 621 operator C-Level, 87 global CEOs, 72 national and regional regulatory bodies, and 7 government ministers. Her unique blend of financial, political, and technology sector experience, and her broadcast ready presentation skills really delivered an elevated experience for the show.”
He added: “We are confident that our new world class venue and host city partnership will provide a platform for further growth with the ICE World Gaming Forum delivering exclusive connections, in-depth content, and tailored networking events.”
Nadine Dereza said: “I’m delighted to have been invited back to help launch the World Gaming Forum in what is a favourite European city of mine. The gambling industry is a highly innovative sector for entrepreneurs, policy makers and campaigners alike. ICE reflects this dynamic on a global scale and I’m looking forward to hosting insightful debates, regulatory updates and plenty of knowledge sharing. I’ve described ICE as being the ‘Davos of Gaming’ because it’s the largest gathering of leaders from across the global gaming ecosystem. Having previously hosted the IBTM Leadership Summit for several consecutive years and many international shows in Barcelona, the welcome and event services offered by the city and Fira venue are among the best I’ve worked with, and those attending ICE in January will see that experience too”
The World Gaming Forum will be situated at the heart of the Fira Gran Via Barcelona and feature an exclusive club-style VIP lounge for delegates and speakers, a dedicated networking garden, and provide access to a range of concierge services, including early access to the show each day.
Industry News
BetConstruct Nominated at SiGMA Europe B2B Awards
BetConstruct has been nominated for two categories at the SiGMA Europe B2B Awards that is set to take place in Valletta, Malta on November 11.
BetConstruct’s full-fledged platform was nominated for the Best Platform Provider category, while the novel loyalty system The Last Battle received a nomination for the Unique Selling Point category.
“Our platform and The Last Battle are testaments to BetConstruct’s commitment to pushing the envelope in innovation, and we are excited to be nominated for both categories. The Last Battle in particular is unique, as it can be easily paired with our casino and sports betting products. It helps partners enhance player engagement on their platforms by putting players into different segments, each with their own unique and customisable rewards that are triggered when players earn points and level up,” the company said.
The Awards take place on the 11th of November during the SiGMA Europe 2024 event.
Industry News
Kindred Group Announces Third Quarter Revenue as Part of Tender Offer by La Française des Jeux
Kindred Group plc (Kindred) announced third quarter total revenue figures (unaudited) as part of FDJ’s public tender offer to acquire the entire outstanding share capital of Kindred.
During the third quarter of 2024, Kindred saw continued solid growth across its diversified market footprint with total revenue (B2C and B2B) reaching GBP 294.5 million. The Gross winnings revenue for the third quarter amounted to GBP 283.1 million and the share of Gross winnings revenue from locally regulated markets amounted to 83%.
Kindred’s estimated revenue and share of locally regulated revenue for the third quarter 2024 are in line with expectations and the Group remains on track towards its communicated full-year EBITDA guidance. Kindred will report final figures for the third quarter 2024 in its interim report on 25 October 2024.
-
Industry News6 days ago
Kindred Group Announces Changes in the Board of Directors
-
Australia4 days ago
IAG’s Andrew W Scott Announced as Latest Conference Chair for 2025 Regulating the Game Conference in Sydney
-
Africa6 days ago
Premier Bet integrates Logifuture’s Zoom Soccer in African markets, expanding virtual sports offerings
-
Conferences in Europe7 days ago
Your Platform, Your Way: GR8 Tech Presents Customized iGaming Solutions at SiGMA Europe
-
eSports6 days ago
Abios partners Svenska Spel to bolster esoccer offering
-
Australia7 days ago
A-Leagues extends with Stats Perform, adds Opta Stream and Opta Search to deepen fan engagement and grow sponsor inventory for men’s and women’s competitions
-
Africa6 days ago
SIS joins forces with Instasolutions to strengthen live Numbers offering across Africa
-
Compliance Updates7 days ago
NSoft’s MGA Recognition Notice: A Catalyst for Continued Growth and Innovation in iGaming