ADPH response to announcement of reduction of maximum stake on Fixed-Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs)

ADPH is delighted that the government has announced that the maximum stake on FOBTs will be reduced to £2. ADPH responded to the consultation on this topic earlier this year and advocated for a reduction of the maximum stake to £2 on all B2 content. Problem gambling is a health inequalities and social justice issue that needs to be addressed through partnership between public health and licensing teams and effective national rules and regulations. Part of this approach should include lowering the maximum stake permitted on B2 (FOBT) machines, and we are delighted that the government is taking this step to reduce the harm from gambling. ADPH Chief Executive Nicola Close said: “This is a great win for public health. Problem gambling devastates lives and negatively impacts on deprived communities. There is substantial evidence to suggest a link between the use of FOBTs and problem gambling, and reducing the stake to £2 will have a positive impact on both public health and health inequality. "We are also pleased that Public Health England will carry out a review of the evidence related to the public health harms of gambling, and we welcome the introduction of tougher protections around online gambling. "Reducing the stakes on FOBT machines is not a silver bullet for tackling problem gambling. Local authorities need more power to tackle the clustering of betting shops in deprived areas, and a mandatory levy on the industry to fund problem gambling treatment should be introduced.”