Following the Chancellor’s Budget speech, which announced that the implementation date for the maximum £2 FOBT stake will come into force in October 2019 and not April 2019, Carolyn Harris’, Chair of the APPG on the Fixed Odds Betting Terminals said:
“I am appalled by today’s announcement. To delay cutting the stake on FOBTs to October 2019 is wholly unjustifiable. This will lead to many more vulnerable people’s lives being harmed while the bookmakers will continue to make millions from FOBT machines. At the same time Remote Gaming Duty is being set at 21% which is at the lower end of the expected range. The bookmakers must be delighted and we can clearly see where the priorities of this Government lie.”