The Treasury intend to stall the implementation of the £2 maximum unit stake on Fixed Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs) until April 2020. That is a full year longer than expected. The outcome of which will be that gambling related harm will continue to being inflicted on those the UK Government has previously stated they aim to help.
The Treasury’s argument is that they need to make up the shortfall in the revenue they stand to lose. I don’t think it’s beyond the combined financial wisdom of the entire Treasury to solve that conundrum before next November and include it in this year’s Finance Bill. They just need to find the will and take the required necessary actions to reduce gambling related harm.
Ronnie Cowan MP 