Published
Land-BasedLegal & Regulatory

Power to ban FOBTs could be devolved by UK government

The

UKflag
UK government is to consider giving Wales the power to ban Fixed odds betting terminals (FOBTs), also known as B2 machines, at its own discretion. The move comes after Wales Office Minister Lord Bourne pledged to review the issue again following protests in the House of Lords.

Authority over gambling is currently reserved to Westminster, but this is set to change as responsibility for FOBTs is already being devolved to Scotland. Labour peer Baroness Morgan tabled an amendment to the Wales Bill to give the country similar powers.

FOBTs, mostly supplied and manufactured by SG Gaming and Inspired Gaming, have come under heavy criticism in the UK, due to the lure of up to £500 payouts allegedly attracting vulnerable people. Campaigners are lobbying for the maximum stake to be reduced from £100 to £2 per go.

Baroness Morgan commented: “Evidence suggests that these machines are highly addictive, causing real and lasting damage to gamblers.

"They have become a huge problem in communities that are often struggling to cope with under-investment and high unemployment, exacerbating the problem of gambling more than any other former of betting."

The issue of FOBTs is also being specifically examined in the overdue triennial review which should grant clarity about the future of FOBTs in the UK as a whole if power over the machines is not devolved to Wales.

Premium+ Connections
Premium

Galaxsys

 
Premium

1xBet Partners

 
Premium

Sport Generate

 
Premium

Digitain

 
Premium

Revsharks

 
 
Premium

GammaStack

 
Premium

PIN-UP Partners

 
Premium

RISK

 
Premium

Imagine Live

 
Premium

Lynon

 
Premium Connections
Consultancy

SCCG Management

Executive Profiles
Zeal Network SE

Stefan Tweraser

VIP Play

Les Ottolenghi

Scientific Games

Keshav Pitani

Social & App

Spribe CEO exclusive: Simplicity is the foundation

Spribe CEO David Natroshvili speaks to Gambling Insider abou...

Redefining iGaming: A history of crash games

Crash games is a growing vertical that has taken gambling by...

A certain something: What makes crash games special?

Crash games. They’re simple, they’re easy to learn and,...

Smarter innovation to shape the future

Spribe CCO Giorgi Tsutskiridze discusses the past, present a...

Facing Facts: The corner of quarterly contemplation

With Q1 reports out across the industry, Gambling Insider co...

Taking Stock: A guide to key stock prices across the industry

Gambling Insider tracks prices from some of the industry’s...

15 years of Gambling Insider: From the Founders

Over the last 15 years, Gambling Insider magazine has interv...

15 years of Gambling Insider: The Awards over time

Global Gaming Awards Event Manager Mariya Savova gives us he...