Addictive gambling machines cost frontline services over £210m a year, study says. This includes £116m in hospital inpatient visits, £32m in secondary mental health services and £16m through criminal behaviour.

Fixed Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs) are frequently dubbed the ‘crack cocaine of gambling’ as punters can bet £100 every 20 seconds on these machines. FOBT’s contributed to 96 per cent of all losses over £1,000 in betting shops in 2017, and have also been closely linked to crippling debt, crime, mental health issues, marriage and family breakdown and in extreme cases – suicide.

The Government is currently considering reducing the high stakes of these machines. CARE has consistently advocated in favour of reducing the stakes on FOBTs from £100 to £2 per spin, in line with public opinion and parliamentarians from across the political spectrum.

Research has also shown that they are often found clustered in the most economically deprived areas, having a significantly negative impact on local communities and on vulnerable people.

The Government has carried out several consultations on Fixed Odds Betting Terminals, which CARE has contributed to. However, whilst it has indicated a willingness to reduce the stakes on FOBTs, as yet there is no timeline for when the Government will do this and at what limit the stakes will be set.

CARE’s Chief Executive Nola Leach

“Significantly reducing the stakes on these harmful machines would not only help problem gamblers and their families, but also alleviate pressure on our already stretched public services.”

“Bookmakers keep making the argument that the money collected in tax revenues from FOBTs outweighs the problems caused by these machines; however, this study paints a different picture.”

“CARE strongly supports significantly reducing the stakes on FOBTs from £100 to £2 per spin, as this would minimise the harm these machines can cause.”

“The Government must decide – and soon – what action they are going to take on these machines. Whilst the Government keeps stalling, FOBTs will continue to cause harm in our communities and stretch our public services to the limit.”

Ends

Notes to the editor:

For more information please contact Rachael Adams on 020 7227 4731 / 07851 153693 or rachael.adams@care.org.uk

CARE gave evidence to the APPG on Gambling on 13 October 2016 where we presented evidence arguing for more robust measures to protect those at risk of problem gambling, more protections for problem gamblers and to reduce the stake of fixed odds betting terminals (FOBTs) from £100 to £2.

CARE has long spoken out about the harmful effects of FOBTs on individuals and society and advocated for the reduction of stakes for FOBTs, noting the link between problem gambling and proliferation of betting shops with FOBTs: Research shows link between problem gambling and proliferation of betting shops with FOBTs

England's poorest bet £13bn on gambling machines -Amount gambled on high-speed machines in deprived boroughs is double that staked in richest areas, report claims

Wheel of Misfortune: the case for lowering the stakes on FOBTs – ResPublica and Fairer Gambling report, Oct 2017

CARE has previously helped facilitate events in parliament where recovering problem gamblers have been able to relate to parliamentarians the devastating effects of gambling addictions on their lives and on the lives of their families.

To see more on our latest work on gambling please click here: https://care.org.uk/news/gambling