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Tory plan to change the 'dangerous' gambling Act
Pippa Crerar and Nicholas Cecil20.10.08
THE Tories plan a shake-up of gambling laws after the number of betting addicts soared by 25 per cent.
The proposals include a ban on internet gamblers using credit cards and stricter rules on advertising for casinos, bookmakers and betting websites. Foreign internet firms could not operate sites in the UK unless they could prove self-regulation.
The call comes after addiction charities warned Britain's gambling problem could get worse as the economy shrinks.
Nearly 38,000 people called addiction hotline Gamcare last year compared with 30,000 the previous year. Average debt soared from £13,800 to £17,500. Seven per cent owed more than £100,000.
Shadow gambling minister Tobias Ellwood said a Tory government would reverse what it says are the most dangerous parts of the Gambling Act 2005. "Gaming must be seen as a form of entertainment where you're likely to lose money, rather than win," he said.
But the key proposal, to increase the number of slot machines in bingo halls and arcades, is likely to raise concern.
Only four basic gaming machines, or category 3, are currently allowed on each premises with a payout of £1, and a maximum prize of £500. The Tories want to allow more category 3 machines up to one fifth of the total number and to raise the stakes to £2, increasing the maximum payout.
Mr Ellwood claimed this would encourage customers to continue using slot machines rather than turn to more addictive fixed-odds terminals.
Reader views (3)
People that become problem gamblers are the same sort that become problem drinkers etc. New Gambling laws should not be based on fools. Gambling should be in places were it is considered people go to gamble and not another activity that drags them onto heavy gambling! Fruit Machnes in pubs are toys and should stay that way Amusement with prize only.
- Mike, London
Slot machines are very different from the machines found in bookies so readers must be careful to distinguish between the two. bookies machines are FOBTs and much more addictive so if the tories want to cut back on those please do- they are the dangerous ones, i should know.
slot machines of the category they are talking about increasing would be fine and help ailing bingo clubs like my local one which closed. they are much less addictive and it's hard to lose great sums of money- unlike FOBTs.
the tories need to be asking the government why they won't do anything about FOBTs- and also how much do they collect in tax from them each year- i think you'll find the two are inextricably linked- it is shameful.
- John Robertson, london
I lost much money and many friends playing slot machines, they are a total menace and ruin lives with their flashing lights and the use of the word "game" when it should be "gamble". I am staggered at the amount of ads on TV for online bingo, which is the soft end of the gambling wedge, and leads to more risks and more money lost over time. Again it's about tax revenue, not what is best for us. Happily I got away from my addiction....many will lose everything so the law MUST be tightened ASAP.
- Mr Anon, London
