MPs and campaigners have expressed concerns over suggestions the Chancellor is set to delay implementing the maximum stake cut on highly addictive fixed odds betting terminals (FOBTs).

According to the Guardian, the proposed cut from £100 to just £2 will now take place in October 2019, despite assurances the cut would take place by April 2019.

Based on current win rates, this fresh delay would allow bookmakers to rake in an estimated £900million.

Timeline

The decision to cut the maximum stake from £100 to £2 was announced by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) in May this year.

At the time, CARE hailed the decision as a victory, following years of campaigning and the charity’s Director of Public Affairs, Dr Dan Boucher said at the time: “This reduction will go a long way towards minimising the harm these machines cause and we hope Regulations will quickly be approved by Parliament.”

Following the initial decision in May 2018, it emerged in June this year that the Treasury was considering delaying the cut until April 2020 due to concerns over tax revenues.

However, the Chancellor came under pressure from a cross-party group of MPs to make sure the cut happened sooner and according to some sources had agreed to bring the cut forward to April 2019.

Fresh delay?

Now, it appears the timetable has slipped back to October 2019 and the suggestion of a fresh delay has led to strong responses.

Sarah Wollaston MP, chair of the Health and Social care Select Committee tweeted this morning that if the rumours are true, MPs could try and amend the Budget to ensure the cut happens sooner.

Labour Carolyn Harris MP said: “Any additional time is without justification”.

CARE’s response

CARE’s James Mildred said: “The Chancellor must realise that if he allows a further delay, he’ll come under huge pressure in the Budget debate. If he wants to avoid an embarrassing U-turn, he needs to step back from delaying the cut and just get on with it.

“FOBTs are incredibly addictive and the combination of high stakes and high speed play mean punters can lose thousands in a very short space of time.

“These machines are socially harmful and having announced the cut to the maximum stake, any fresh delay is both unnecessary and unacceptable.”

Find out more

Read more about CARE’s long-standing work on FOBTs and gambling addiction

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