FOBT change finally ending cruel grip of industry on vulnerable people say Lib Dems

Ahead of this afternoon's amendment to the Finance Bill which will see the Government accept that the £2 minimum stake for Fixed-Odds-Betting-Terminals must be introduced within six months, rather than the year initially planned, Liberal Democrat Culture Spokesperson in the Commons Christine Jardine said:

“This day should have come far earlier, but it is better late than never. I am glad that the Government have curbed to pressure to reduce the stakes on FOBT’s to £2.

“People across the country, from all walks of life, have found themselves in the cruel grip of an industry relentlessly extorting money from vulnerable individuals.

“This change in law should have taken place many years ago, and the Liberal Democrats pushed for it whilst in Government, but it took one of their own to walk out of DCMS, for the Tories to sit up and listen.”