We applaud the announcement that there will be a stake reduction of highly addictive fixed-odds betting terminals from £100 a spin to £2. The ability of players, including the most vulnerable in society, to place bets of up to £100 every 20 seconds is a matter of the deepest concern for responsible society. It is of particular concern to faith communities, from which we come, as it is often left to places of worship and faith groups to pick up the pieces when individuals become addicted.
It is now reported that a deal between bookmakers and the Treasury will delay implementation to two years, instead of the eight weeks which is required to change the stake (Treasury under fire over delay on fixed-odds betting curbs, 16 June). If these reports are accurate, society and the Gambling Commission must call government to account on behalf of the vulnerable. The higher stake brings in more than £2bn a year for bookmakers, primarily from areas of social deprivation. We cannot allow tax revenues and bookmakers’ profits to be placed before the daily misery caused by these pernicious machines on the high street. Every day of delay means a further day of exploitation of the vulnerable. We all have a responsibility to ensure that action is taken as swiftly as possible.
Indarjit Singh, Kathleen Richardson, Navnit Dholakia House of Lords, Rt Rev Alan Smith Bishop of St Albans
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