FIXED ODDS BETTING TERMINALS

That this House notes with disappointment that the Government has again missed an opportunity to proceed with a stake reduction on fixed odds betting terminals (FOBT); further notes the measures requiring a planning application for new betting shops combined with requiring those accessing stakes over £50 to use account-based play or load cash over the counter do not go far enough; further notes that more people are going to be drawn into more addictive FOBT play, whilst the most effective solution and the power to implement it already rests with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport of reducing the stake on par with all other high street gaming machines; further notes that the Government's package of reforms will only support the bookmakers whilst further encouraging problem gambling and leaving councils with ineffective powers to deal with the issues; and calls on the Government to use the precautionary principle and reduce the maximum stakes on FOBTs from £100 to £2 in line with all other high street gaming machines.