UK MPs come out against FOBTs cap delay

A group of British MPs has come out against the delay in implementing the maximum cap on fixed odds betting terminals (FOBTs). They have sent a letter to Prime Minister Theresa May, urging her to reconsider the delay in implementing the cap. They term the decision to delay it “immoral and dangerous.”

The proposed new ceiling for FOBTs is £2.

The MPs, including Labour’s Carolyn Harris, Tory Iain Duncan Smith and the SNP’s Ronnie Cowan, demand that the limit to be implemented by 2019, and not 2020 as has been decided.

 “If the PM was to meet with mothers – like I have – who have seen their sons take their lives over their addiction to these machines she would act now. We hope the letter will demonstrate our determination to make sure this happens no later than 2019. Anything less is totally unacceptable and reprehensible,” added Carolyn Harris.

Under the terms of the deal with the Treasury, the maximum stake on the machines will be reduced from £100 to £2, but not before 2020. Gamblers are expected to lose £4 billion in the two year period, based on the average £1.8 billion a year in revenues taken by the FOBTs machines.

Source: FocusGamingNews