Across the United Kingdom, more and more city councils are considering banning poker machines from betting shops.
Liverpool has recently proposed a new legislation that would prohibit local bookmakers from offering punters the option of playing pokies and some politicians want to ban betting shops altogether. However, the federal government has recently intervened, confirming that it will not go comply with any motions to ban bookmakers from high streets.
The games that are being banned are Fixed Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs), which allow players to wager on a wide range of games that offer fixed odds. The most common type of FOBT offers roulette, but bingo and simulated racing games are also available. Many FOBTs offer slots games very similar to pokies.
Recently, responsible gambling advocates have become concerned about the number of FOBTs that are available to punters, as betting shops continue to multiply. As such, city councils are considering using planning codes to prevent new betting shops from opening up on local high streets.
The federal government is now acting in the interest of betting shop owners by preventing councils from using these codes to stop new bookmakers from opening. Newham Council’s case illustrates this struggle. Earlier this year, the council attempted to stop Paddy Power from opening up another betting shop in a neighbourhood in which there were already 81 bookmakers.
The bookmaker’s license for the new shop was withheld, but Thames Magistrates Court ruled against the council. Now, it seems that city councils are looking for the next best option, which is banning FOBTs rather than betting shops themselves. Liverpool’s legislation is quite controversial, but local residents have shown their support.
It will be interesting to see whether or not the city successfully bans FOBTs and pokies from local bookmakers.
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