The Gambling Commission has today published its advice to
support the Government with its review of gaming machines and
social responsibility measures.
At the heart of the advice is an aim to reduce the risks that
consumers, especially those that are vulnerable, face from
gambling.
The advice makes it clear that action from Government, the
Commission and operators is needed.
Recommendations from the report include:
- The FOBT (B2) slots
stakes should be limited to £2
- The stake limit for FOBT (B2) non-slot games (which includes
roulette) should be set at or below £30 if it is to have a
significant effect on the potential for players to lose large
amounts of money in a short space of time
- Banning the facility for machines to allow different
categories of games to be played in a single session
- There is a strong case to make tracked play mandatory across
machines categories (B1,B2,B3)
- Extending to category B1 and B3 machines the kinds of
protections, such as player limits, that are in place on FOBT (B2
machines)
- Working with the industry and others on steps to make
limit-setting more effective – this could include ending sessions
when consumers reach time and money limits.
It is up to Government whether to implement the Commission’s
recommendations which have been provided through a letter to
the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and
Sport.
Gambling Commission Chief Executive Neil McArthur 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.”
Review of
gaming machines and social responsibility measures – formal
advice.
Notes to editors
-
How do machine gamblers
feel about tracked play? – research conducted by
Populus
-
Review
of the research, education and treatment (RET) arrangements
- More information about gaming machine
categories
- More information about how we
regulate the gambling industry.
- Useful statistics on the
gambling industry.
