This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-35145766
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Call for high street betting machine ban | Call for high street betting machine ban |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Holyrood should be given the power to ban fixed odds betting terminals from high street bookmaker shops, a committee of MSPs has concluded. | |
| The MSPs have been looking into the use of the machines, which allow players to bet on the outcome of games and events with fixed odds returns. | The MSPs have been looking into the use of the machines, which allow players to bet on the outcome of games and events with fixed odds returns. |
| The games can include roulette, bingo, simulated horse and greyhound racing and a range of slot machine games. | The games can include roulette, bingo, simulated horse and greyhound racing and a range of slot machine games. |
| The committee heard evidence that the machines were highly addictive. | The committee heard evidence that the machines were highly addictive. |
| And it was told that players could sometimes lose hundreds, or even thousands, of pounds while playing the fixed odds betting terminals (FOBTs). | And it was told that players could sometimes lose hundreds, or even thousands, of pounds while playing the fixed odds betting terminals (FOBTs). |
| The Scotland Bill which is currently going through Westminster would give the Scottish Parliament the ability to limit the number of machines allowed in new bookmaker shops. | The Scotland Bill which is currently going through Westminster would give the Scottish Parliament the ability to limit the number of machines allowed in new bookmaker shops. |
| But Holyrood's local government and regeneration committee concluded that this did not go far enough given the high number of terminals already available. | But Holyrood's local government and regeneration committee concluded that this did not go far enough given the high number of terminals already available. |
| Committee convenor Kevin Stewart, an SNP MSP, said he believed the maximum stake of £100 per game and the ability to play three games per minute meant FOBTs were a form of "hard gambling" and should therefore be banned from the high street. | Committee convenor Kevin Stewart, an SNP MSP, said he believed the maximum stake of £100 per game and the ability to play three games per minute meant FOBTs were a form of "hard gambling" and should therefore be banned from the high street. |
| He said: "The casino industry told us these machines are a form of hard gambling and unsuitable for the unsupervised environment of a bookmaker's shop. | He said: "The casino industry told us these machines are a form of hard gambling and unsuitable for the unsupervised environment of a bookmaker's shop. |
| "We were given evidence about the clustering of bookmakers in some communities - for example, one parade of shops in Glasgow with three bookmakers each offering four FOBT machines - and local authorities have told us they feel powerless to do anything to restrict the number of bookmakers." | "We were given evidence about the clustering of bookmakers in some communities - for example, one parade of shops in Glasgow with three bookmakers each offering four FOBT machines - and local authorities have told us they feel powerless to do anything to restrict the number of bookmakers." |
| He said planning rules should be changed to give local authorities more control and the ability to address the clustering of machines. | He said planning rules should be changed to give local authorities more control and the ability to address the clustering of machines. |
| 'No greater risk' | 'No greater risk' |
| And he said the Scotland Bill would not give the Scottish Parliament any "real and effective powers" to tackle FOBTs. | And he said the Scotland Bill would not give the Scottish Parliament any "real and effective powers" to tackle FOBTs. |
| In its submission to the committee, the Association of British Bookmakers argued that gaming machines "pose no greater risk than any other gambling product". | In its submission to the committee, the Association of British Bookmakers argued that gaming machines "pose no greater risk than any other gambling product". |
| It said: "Since the introduction of gaming machines into shops over 10 years ago levels of problem gambling have remained relatively stable and declined year on year." | It said: "Since the introduction of gaming machines into shops over 10 years ago levels of problem gambling have remained relatively stable and declined year on year." |
| It also argued that reducing the number of fixed odds betting terminals would "disproportionately impact the viability of the (bookmaker) sector which has a strong history in Scotland and risks customer displacement to non-regulated environments". | It also argued that reducing the number of fixed odds betting terminals would "disproportionately impact the viability of the (bookmaker) sector which has a strong history in Scotland and risks customer displacement to non-regulated environments". |
| On Sunday, the BBC reported that a bid to cut the maximum bet on some high street gambling machines in England had been resubmitted. | On Sunday, the BBC reported that a bid to cut the maximum bet on some high street gambling machines in England had been resubmitted. |
| Newham Council said the machines had "sucked the life blood out of local communities" and urged ministers to reduce the highest stake from £100 to £2. | Newham Council said the machines had "sucked the life blood out of local communities" and urged ministers to reduce the highest stake from £100 to £2. |