UK government may devolve power to ban FOBTs

The UK government has said it will consider granting Wales the power to ban fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) within its borders.

According to the BBC, Wales Office Minister Lord Bourne pledged to look at the issue again following protests in the House of Lords.

Although UK gambling law is currently under the jurisdiction of Westminster, responsibility for high-stakes machines is being devolved to Scotland, and Labour peer Baroness Morgan has tabled an amendment to the Wales Bill in order to give the county similar powers.

FOBTs have come under heavy criticism in the UK, with campaign groups calling for the maximum stake to be cut from £100 (€116/$125) per spin to just £2.

“Many, often vulnerable, people are attracted by the prospect of high payouts of up to £500,” Morgan said.

“Evidence suggests that these machines are highly addictive, causing real and lasting damage to gamblers.

“They have become a huge problem in communities that are often struggling to cope with under-investment and high unemployment, exacerbating the problem of gambling more than any other former of betting.”

Related article: Campaign group hails Labour’s pledge to tackle FOBTs