Paddy Power, William Hill and Coral will slash the maximum stake on highly addictive Fixed Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs) in Northern Ireland, according to recent correspondence between a Belfast Councillor and the Association of British Bookmakers.

Ladbrokes led the way by announcing last November that it was taking action to bring the stake in FOBTs in NI in line with the rest of the United Kingdom, following the news that the FOBT stake would cut across GB from £100 to just £2 as of April 2019.

Earlier this month, after a debate at Belfast City Council led by Councillor John Kyle on problem gambling in Norther Ireland, bookmakers wrote to Mr Kyle, confirming that they, like Ladbrokes, will be reducing the stake also.

At the moment, FOBTs operate in a legal grey area in Northern Ireland, in part because the Gambling Act 2005 does not extend to the country, machines there will continue to operate at £100 a spin unless bookies decide themselves to impose the change.

Today, public policy charity CARE in Northern Ireland welcomed the proactive decision of Paddy Power, William Hill and Coral and called on other bookmakers, yet to publicly commit to reducing the stake, to do so as soon as possible.

Research has shown that FOBTs are clustered in economically deprived areas and that there are four times as many problem gamblers in NI as the rest of the United Kingdom.

CARE in Northern Ireland Policy Officer Mark Baillie said:

“CARE is pleased that other bookmakers have joined Ladbrokes in slashing the stake on highly addictive fixed odds betting machines here in Northern Ireland, and we urge the rest to follow suit.

“The devastation caused by FOBTs is well-documented and it is of critical importance that action is taken to ensure the maximum stake is reduced on these machines here.

“The idea that the stake would be cut on FOBTs in Britain while still operating at £100 a spin here in Northern Ireland is unacceptable.

“It is well known that FOBTs operate in a legal grey area in Northern Ireland but that cannot be used as a reason for inaction.

“What we really need is full and proper legal clarity on this issue and it is up to all political parties in Northern Ireland to examine ways the change in Britain can be made to apply here too.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

For press inquiries please contact James Mildred on: james.mildred@care.org.uk // 07717516814

Read more on this story here: https://www.racingpost.com/news/ladbrokes-to-apply-change-in-fobt-stakes-in-northern-ireland/354447

Following the announced plan to cut the maximum stake on FOBTs in April 2019, CARE in NI called for action to be taken to ensure the cut applies in Northern Ireland: https://care.org.uk/news/latest-news/govt-u-turn-fobts-leaves-out-ni

Belfast City Councillors to call for action on problem gambling: https://care.org.uk/news/latest-news/belfast-city-councillors-call-action-problem-gambling

Northern Ireland must reform its outdated gambling laws: https://care.org.uk/news/latest-news/blog-we-must-reform-our-outdated-gambling-laws

Research shows Northern Ireland has more than four times as many problem gamblers as England: https://care.org.uk/news/latest-news/new-report-shows-northern-ireland-has-more-four-times-many-problem-gamblers-england

Research has also shown a link between problem gambling and proliferation of betting shops with FOBTs: https://care.org.uk/news/latest-news/research-shows-link-between-problem-gambling-and-proliferation-betting-shops-fobts

CARE Polling on problem gambling in Britain:

Problem gambling is a huge concern in Britain today, with research showing that 14.5 million people – almost 10 per cent – of the population know someone personally with a gambling problem.

Research also shows that 63% per cent of people in Britain think that gambling is now a significant issue in Britain today.

66% of men (61% of men and women) are unhappy with the current arrangement in which the Government encourages the gambling industry to make voluntary contributions to help care for problem gamblers. 66% of men agreed in a ComRes poll that the level of industry contributions should be increased and that it should be made compulsory. The total value of such contributions last year was just £8 million – 0.06% of Gross Gambling Yield.

ComRes interviewed 2,036 GB adults online between 19th and 21st January 2018. Data were weighted to be representative of all British adults aged 18+ by age, gender, region and social grade. ComRes is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.

See details of the poll here: http://www.comresglobal.com/polls/care-gambling-research-january-2018/