A PACK OF LIES?

Why the bookmakers’ arguments about roulette machines simply don’t stack up…

When will the ABB reveal the facts?What percentage of individual deposits placed in FOBTs are gambled until totally lost?What percentage of all deposits placed in FOBTS are lost by gamblers?

‘FOBTS’ (Fixed Odds Betting Terminals - the machines that you find in high street betting shops) were introduced when the betting shop sector was unregulated and have since multiplied to now be dubbed the ‘crack cocaine of gambling’.

The ABB (Association of British Bookmakers) appears to think they’re fit and proper. When it comes to FOBTs (also known as B2 machines), they most certainly are not. To prove they’re not dealing with the truth, we unpick their arguments one dubious claim at a time.

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The ABB says: “The betting industry is a heavily and disproportionately regulated entertainment.”

We say: No it is not. Compared to the casino industry,

betting shops are disproportionately lightly regulated. The betting shop FOBTs are as hard a form of gambling as anything in a casino, so they should be regulated on parity with casinos. Out of all the countries in the world that permit betting shop machines can the ABB tell us if any other countries have betting shop roulette machines that take £100 in 20 seconds?

The ABB says: “Electronic machines in shops are an increasingly popular product, but severely restricted...”

We say: No they’re not. The maximum stake on UK casino

slot machines is £2. The maximum on FOBTs is £100. FOBTs generate nearly £1.4 billion a year for bookmakers. Combined tables and machines generate less than £0.9 billion for casinos.

FOBTs have grown from nothing to virtually the largest sector in UK licensed gambling in 10 years. Hardly ‘severely restricted’ and now they want even more FOBTs per shop with localised licensing!

The ABB says: “...there is no evidence to link them to problem gambling...”

We say: Yes there is. The British Gambling Prevalence Survey 2010 showed problem

gambling had increased by 50% in three years and also showed that FOBTs are disproportionately attractive to young, unemployed, low-income and vulnerable high-spend and high-time gamblers.

Of 18 gambling activities, 5 were identified as having the highest problem gambling prevalence. Of the 5, the activity of gamblers having least engagement in other activities was FOBTs. The survey stated that £7 per hour was a high-spend loss, but FOBT gamblers lose £30 per hour. All sure signs of problem gambling on bookmakers roulette machines.

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*All assertions contained within this article are the opinion of the Fairer Gambling Campaign (www.Fairergambling.co.uk), a not-for-profit entity funded by Prime Table Games – experts in understanding game content and player behaviour.