BAN THE FOBT

It is clear to see why the FOBT (Fixed Odds Betting Terminal) is known as the “crack cocaine” on the high street. These machines continuously ruin lives on the high street every single day of the week! People are losing their family, their cars, their houses and even occasionally their own lives due to these addictive machines.

The FOBT came to life in bookmakers in 2001 where “punters” had the opportunity to put money in these machines and play games such as slots or roulette for an instant win (or an instant loss as people tend to find). A single stake could be anything up to £100 a time and this could take a matter of seconds to loose. So In would go another £100 and another £100 and another £100 until the “punter” is satisfied with the amount won, or in a lot cases has simply spent an awful lot of money and Is unable to continue funding the machine. It was reported between 2011-2012 that there were 33,319 FOBT terminals throughout Britain. You do the maths! Lives were being ruined, the addictions too strong and people all over the world were in a pit of darkness which seemed for them that there were no escape.

After a long fought battle by many people it was finally decided that on the 1st April 2019 the maximum stake would be reduced from £100 to £2. This was drastic for bookmakers! Governing bodies scratching there heads everywhere as their main source of income has just plummeted! Yet the FOBT still continues survive. Instead the bookmakers have come up with ways to take £2 a time in seconds. £20 in the machine could last less than 30seconds and the addiction still thrives on. Staff get verbally abused, FOBTs get smashed and hit and “punters” still continue to loose there lives through a machine. 

I have served in the betting industry for approx. 5 years. I have seen countless machines Get smashed due to the level of frustration after losing so much money, I have taken a ton of verbal abuse and threats all because of these machines and the £2 stake change has not fixed anything! 

We promote responsible gambling however this is below inadequate. Voluntary time limits or spend limits are easily bypassed, the self exclusion scheme simply relies on staff remembering a face. Overall there is simply no control and seems to be no remorse for people ruining there lives. Things need to change! These machines need to be removed!