Re: Why the Association of British Bookmakers’ self-regulated ‘code of conduct’ won’t work and why making it mandatory leaves the public vulnerable.

It’s time for politicians to stand up and be counted. British bookmakers have announced that gamblers in England and Wales will be able to set their own limits on time and money spent on high-stakes gaming machines in betting shops. What they’ve failed to address is that while gamblers will be allowed to set their own limits, sticking to them remains optional. We have experienced the addictive quality of these machines first hand and can tell you that most people who play fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) will not only opt out of setting a limit but would have no hesitation in overriding any limit in the heat of the moment. The fact remains there are more than 33,000 FOBTs across England and Wales, on which gamblers can wager £100 every 20 seconds. With these machines bringing in over 50 per cent of bookmakers’ profits, this latest move is little more than a smokescreen, designed to detract from the real issue that high-stakes machines are a major contributor to problem gambling and it is being made worse by the clustering of bookmakers on our high streets.

To protect vulnerable people, the Government needs to ignore distraction tactics like this one and instead urgently legislate for a cut in the stake of these machines from £100 to £2, in line with other gaming machines on the high street as a matter of policy. Those most at risk don’t need more research or window dressing measures designed to cause delay. Planning reform is not the solution nor is making the bookmakers’ code mandatory. If this Government is serious about wanting to help the most vulnerable, they will cut the stake immediately. — Roger Radler, Marlow