Across the United Kingdom, responsible gambling campaigners are concerned about the current betting limits on gaming machines – similar to the situation regarding betting limits on Australian poker machines. In Chester, UK, city councils want to reduce betting limits £2 to help reduce problem gambling rates. Currently, gaming machines in betting shops across the United Kingdom allow players to place up to £100 per round.
There are concerns that at-risk players may be unable to control their spending when they have the freedom to wager such a large amount per spin. By reducing the betting limit per spin, responsible gambling advocates are hopeful that problem gambling rates will be driven down.
“To even have one game costs a considerable amount of money which many people cannot afford but imagine if whoever was playing, continued to load the machine up to a maximum of another £100?,” says Councillor Brian Jones. “I agree that the cost should be £2 like the rest of the machines in the betting shops and I support our backing of this national campaign.”
The campaign is quite similar to The Greens’ push for $1 betting limits in Australia. The political party has spent the past few years campaigning to reduce the betting limit on pokies to just $1. Thus far, The Greens have not seen very much success – casting doubt on Chester’s push for a reduction in betting limits on gaming machines.
Several studies have been conducted about betting limits for gaming machines, and the jury still seems to be out whether or not lower limits help to reduce problem gambling rates.
Still, it can’t hurt to reduce betting limits, as it reduces the amount of money that problem gamblers can wager on gaming machines.
About the Author
