Tom Watson: Cut to FOTB stakes does not go far enough

The commission says the maximum stake for FOBTs – dubbed the crack cocaine of gambling – should be cut to £30 or less.

Currently people can bet up to £100 every 20 seconds on electronic casino games, such as roulette and blackjack.

But Labour's deputy leader said the recommendation, which follows a Government consultation, does not go far enough.

He has called for the maximum stake on electronic casino games such as roulette to be slashed to £2.

West Bromwich East MP Mr Watson said: "The Gambling Commission's recommendation that the maximum stake on fixed-odds betting terminals be reduced from £100 to £30 or less does not go anything like far enough. It simply passes the buck to ministers.

"But, if we are to tackle the hidden epidemic of gambling addiction in this country, we need decisive action.

"We need to reduce the maximum stake on electronic casino games like roulette to £2, and introduce slower spin times.

"I sincerely hope ministers do the right thing, but I fear they will cow-tow to the powerful lobbying of the betting industry which generates £1.8bn a year by putting the health of its profits before the health of its customers."

The commission’s recommendation will be one of the most influential submissions to a review by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, which has said it will cut the maximum bet on FOBTs from £100 to a range between £2 and £50.

Bookmakers derive more than half of their annual revenues from FOBTs, and have warned that a cut to £2 on such games would force shops to close and cost jobs.

Shares in William Hill and Ladbrokes Coral rose by around four per cent following the announcement.

A series of other measures were put forward, including greater use of 'tracked play', where betting patterns are monitored to identify problem gambling behaviour and tighter controls on online gambling.

The Gambling Commission’s chief executive, Neil McArthur, said: “In our judgment, a stake cut for fixed odds betting terminals alone doesn’t go far enough to protect vulnerable people.

"That is why we have recommended a stake cut plus a comprehensive package of other measures to protect consumers.

“We have proposed actions that will tackle both the risk of harm and provide solutions that are sustainable in the longer term.”

The commission also recommended the lowest possible limit of £2 per spin be imposed on 'slots' games, similar to fruit machines.