Motion submitted by Councillor Roscoe
To consider the following Motion submitted by Councillor Roscoe:
Motion in relation to Betting Machines
This Council notes:
1. The prevalence of Fixed Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs) in betting shops, often referred to in the media as “the crack cocaine of gambling”.
2. That, unlike fruit machines in pubs, bingo halls and amusement arcades where cash stakes are limited to £2, gamblers can bet with cash or via a debit card up to £100 every 20 seconds on FOBTs, more than four times as fast as the rate of play in casinos.
3. That in 2012, over £1.5bn was lost on FOBTs across the UK. More profit was made from FOBTs than from the National Lottery, when according to the most recent British Gambling Prevalence Survey, 56% of the population play the Lottery, but just 4% play FOBTs.
4. Empirical evidence that suggests FOBTs are the most addictive form of gambling.
5. Research carried out by Geofutures, which found there to be four times as many betting shops in areas of high unemployment than in areas of low unemployment.
6. This same research estimates that £207,480,458 was lost on FOBTS in Sefton in 2016 alone.
7. Nationally, more than 80% of turnover in betting shops and more than half of profits are derived from FOBTs. Less than 20% of stakes in betting shops are over the counter.
8. A recent economic analysis undertaken by Landman Economics, commissioned by the Campaign for Fairer Gambling, which assessed the impact of FOBTs on local economies and across the wider economy. The report concluded that every £1bn spent on FOBTs produces a net reduction of 13,000 jobs, compared to if spent in the wider consumer economy. The projected doubling of revenue from FOBTs by 2023 could cost a further 23,000 jobs across the economy.
9. Concern that the Government has not addressed the issues caused by FOBTs, and the announcement made by Maria Miller MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, on 10 October 2013 in response to the Triennial Review of gaming machine stakes and prizes, where the stakes on FOBTs were unchanged.
10. The Government has proposed measures that will require players who wish to stake over £50 per spin to seek permission from staff. This wrongly implies stakes up to £50 are safe, and that staff intervention is an effective means of ensuring player protection.
11. The position in the Republic of Ireland where the Government has introduced legislation to outlaw FOBTs in betting shops.
This Council believes that the increase in FOBTs is causing significant problems and believes that the Government should either use the existing legislative framework, or introduce legislation to outlaw B2 casino games in betting shops.
Sefton Council launched a young people’s outreach problem gambling programme (BigDeal) delivered through Beacon Counselling Trust and GamCare. Awareness raising sessions for groups of young people and training for professionals working with this age group which provides information about risks that problem gambling poses and ... view the full agenda text for item 50
Minutes:
The Deputy Chair drew Members attention to some missing words to point 6 of the Motion and reported that after the word “was” the following words should be included “gambled with “9,647,841 lost” on FOBTS in Sefton in 2016.
The Deputy Chair also referred to a letter that had been circulated around the Chamber that he had received from the Association of British Bookmakers Ltd in relation to this matter.
It was moved by Councillor Roscoe, seconded by Councillor Lappin and unanimously
RESOLVED:
This Council notes:
1. The prevalence of Fixed Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs) in betting shops, often referred to in the media as “the crack cocaine of gambling”.
2. That, unlike fruit machines in pubs, bingo halls and amusement arcades where cash stakes are limited to £2, gamblers can bet with cash or via a debit card up to £100 every 20 seconds on FOBTs, more than four times as fast as the rate of play in casinos.
3. That in 2012, over £1.5bn was lost on FOBTs across the UK. More profit was made from FOBTs than from the National Lottery, when according to the most recent British Gambling Prevalence Survey, 56% of the population play the Lottery, but just 4% play FOBTs.
4. Empirical evidence that suggests FOBTs are the most addictive form of gambling.
5. Research carried out by Geofutures, which found there to be four times as many betting shops in areas of high unemployment than in areas of low unemployment.
6. This same research estimates that £207,480,458 was gambled with £9,647,841 lost on FOBTS in Sefton in 2016 alone.
7. Nationally, more than 80% of turnover in betting shops and more than half of profits are derived from FOBTs. Less than 20% of stakes in betting shops are over the counter.
8. A recent economic analysis undertaken by Landman Economics, commissioned by the Campaign for Fairer Gambling, which assessed the impact of FOBTs on local economies and across the wider economy. The report concluded that every £1bn spent on FOBTs produces a net reduction of 13,000 jobs, compared to if spent in the wider consumer economy. The projected doubling of revenue from FOBTs by 2023 could cost a further 23,000 jobs across the economy.
9. Concern that the Government has not addressed the issues caused by FOBTs, and the announcement made by Maria Miller MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, on 10 October 2013 in response to the Triennial Review of gaming machine stakes and prizes, where the stakes on FOBTs were unchanged.
10. The Government has proposed measures that will require players who wish to stake over £50 per spin to seek permission from staff. This wrongly implies stakes up to £50 are safe, and that staff intervention is an effective means of ensuring player protection.
11. The position in the Republic of Ireland where the Government has introduced legislation to outlaw FOBTs in betting shops.
This Council believes that the increase in FOBTs is causing significant problems and ... view the full minutes text for item 50