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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| £2 betting machine limit rejected by government | £2 betting machine limit rejected by government |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A bid to have the maximum bet on some gambling machines significantly reduced has been rejected by the government. | A bid to have the maximum bet on some gambling machines significantly reduced has been rejected by the government. |
| Some 93 councils in England and Wales called for the highest stake on fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) to be cut from £100 to £2. | Some 93 councils in England and Wales called for the highest stake on fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) to be cut from £100 to £2. |
| Newham Council, which led the campaign, said the move would help prevent clusters of betting shops, particularly in deprived areas. | Newham Council, which led the campaign, said the move would help prevent clusters of betting shops, particularly in deprived areas. |
| The government said it had already introduced stronger controls. | |
| The proposal had been submitted under legislation which allows councils to urge central government to change the law to help them promote the "sustainability of local communities". | The proposal had been submitted under legislation which allows councils to urge central government to change the law to help them promote the "sustainability of local communities". |
| Newham's mayor, Sir Robin Wales, said the decision was an "insult" to councils. | |
| "We will challenge this decision, because without a reduction in stakes, FOBTs will continue to blight the nation's high streets," he said. | |
| Problem gambling | Problem gambling |
| There has been a significant rise in the amount of money gambled using FOBTs in recent years. | There has been a significant rise in the amount of money gambled using FOBTs in recent years. |
| Between October 2013 and September 2014, £1.6bn was gambled using the machines, up from £1.3bn in 2010-11, according to the Gambling Commission. | Between October 2013 and September 2014, £1.6bn was gambled using the machines, up from £1.3bn in 2010-11, according to the Gambling Commission. |
| Newham Council has said it is possible to bet up to £18,000 in an hour using them. | Newham Council has said it is possible to bet up to £18,000 in an hour using them. |
| Earlier this year, new rules were introduced which mean anyone wanting to place a £50 stake on the machines has to interact with staff or set up an account with a bookmaker. | |
| The government said the change will allow staff to monitor behaviour and act if they identify signs of problem gambling. | |
| Case study: 'I spent any money I could' | Case study: 'I spent any money I could' |
| Simon Perfitt, 59, spent ten years using fixed-odds betting terminals. During that period he lost his job and home after gambling "any money" he had. | Simon Perfitt, 59, spent ten years using fixed-odds betting terminals. During that period he lost his job and home after gambling "any money" he had. |
| Mr Perfitt, who lives in Dudley, was 47 before he even entered a betting shop. But within two years of being introduced to gambling machines by a friend, he was addicted. | Mr Perfitt, who lives in Dudley, was 47 before he even entered a betting shop. But within two years of being introduced to gambling machines by a friend, he was addicted. |
| "When [FOBTs] first came out, you saw quite a few people winning", he says, explaining the attraction of the machines. "That and the fact that there were fixed odds." | "When [FOBTs] first came out, you saw quite a few people winning", he says, explaining the attraction of the machines. "That and the fact that there were fixed odds." |
| Mr Perfitt never bet as much as £100 in a single stake, but often splurged £30 on each bet. He recalls losing £3,000 in a single lunch hour. After losing his job, he would often spend a whole day gambling. | Mr Perfitt never bet as much as £100 in a single stake, but often splurged £30 on each bet. He recalls losing £3,000 in a single lunch hour. After losing his job, he would often spend a whole day gambling. |
| "It probably wouldn't have been so attractive if there were lower stakes," Mr Perfitt says, though he concedes he may have just ended up losing his money "more slowly". | "It probably wouldn't have been so attractive if there were lower stakes," Mr Perfitt says, though he concedes he may have just ended up losing his money "more slowly". |
| He doesn't know exactly how much money he lost over his decade of gambling, but estimates around £180,000. | He doesn't know exactly how much money he lost over his decade of gambling, but estimates around £180,000. |
| Mr Perfitt eventually ended up in rehab for a year. He hasn't gambled for more than three years and now works for the charity, Rethink Gambling. | Mr Perfitt eventually ended up in rehab for a year. He hasn't gambled for more than three years and now works for the charity, Rethink Gambling. |
| A government spokesman said: "We do not support Newham Council's proposal as we have already acted by introducing stronger gambling controls to further protect players and promote responsible gambling, in April. | A government spokesman said: "We do not support Newham Council's proposal as we have already acted by introducing stronger gambling controls to further protect players and promote responsible gambling, in April. |
| "This includes putting an end to unsupervised stakes above £50 on FOBTs and giving more powers to local authorities to stop new betting shops opening up in their areas. | "This includes putting an end to unsupervised stakes above £50 on FOBTs and giving more powers to local authorities to stop new betting shops opening up in their areas. |
| "The government will continue to monitor the effectiveness of existing controls and will take further action if necessary." | "The government will continue to monitor the effectiveness of existing controls and will take further action if necessary." |
| 'Responsible measures' | |
| Sir Robin said betting shops had "taken over our high streets". | |
| "Current planning and gambling laws are failing to protect our towns and high streets" he added. | |
| The Campaign for Fairer Gambling, which supports a lower maximum stake, said: "Councils are the ones who know the impact of FOBTs in their areas." | The Campaign for Fairer Gambling, which supports a lower maximum stake, said: "Councils are the ones who know the impact of FOBTs in their areas." |
| A spokesman for the Association of British Bookmakers said the industry was committed to "responsible gambling measures". | A spokesman for the Association of British Bookmakers said the industry was committed to "responsible gambling measures". |
| Any rule changes should be "based on facts and evidence", he added. | Any rule changes should be "based on facts and evidence", he added. |
| Some powers over gaming machines with a maximum stake of £10 or more in Scotland are expected to be devolved to Holyrood as part of the Scotland Bill. |