Fixed Odds Betting Terminals

I believe that the gambling industry has for too long been permitted to prey on vulnerable and desperate people. I am of the opinion that these addictive gambling machines are highly dangerous and that imposing a £2 maximum bet on FOBTs is an important step in tackling the problem of predatory gambling practices in this country and I was proud to stand on a Labour manifesto that pledged to introduce this £2 cap on bets made using Fixed-Odds Betting Terminals.

I have recently signed an early day motion on this matter which reads:

That this House considers that the excessive receipt of taxation on losses by users of Fixed Odds Betting Terminals is no justification for allowing stakes above £2 for longer than April 2019.

Labour have recently announced a series of reforms on gambling law including:
Calls for a ‘whistle to whistle’ ban on gambling advertising in live sport.
The introduction of a compulsory levy on gambling operators of 1% of Gross Gambling Yield.
New clinical guidelines and increased resources for the treatment of gambling addiction.
New rules to allow addicts to tell their bank to stop online gambling transactions.
A ban on credit card betting.

I am glad to report that the hard work along with my colleagues in the Labour Party, as well as Conservative rebels, and of course ordinary voters, the Government has done a U-turn and agreed to implement the £2 limit in April 2019. This is extremely welcome news, though I am dismayed that it took such a fight to get this obviously correct decision.

I hope that this reassures you that both Lloyd and his colleagues in the Labour Party are committed to tackling the issue of problem gambling in a comprehensive manner.