It's happened! £2 stake on FOBTS

I'd imagine that's going to be the case. But so happy with this outcome. Just hope it's not going to take the anticipated ' one year ' to implement!

Let’s just hope that it gets implemented quicker than that, funny how there’s been no mention of when mind. Just imagine if they passed it to increase to £200 a bet then I could guarantee you that you’d be able to walk into the bookies this morning and place the bet.

Dmpowell81 wrote:

Let’s just hope that it gets implemented quicker than that, funny how there’s been no mention of when mind. Just imagine if they passed it to increase to £200 a bet then I could guarantee you that you’d be able to walk into the bookies this morning and place the bet.

So true. Wish there was a "Like" button here sometimes! They will use every excuse possible to delay as long as they can.

Yes just looking at the news now. It's going to take ' months' as opposed to weeks. Well said Dmpowell81. let's just see exactly how long it does take them. it's just a shame this wasn't introduced years ago!

Best news ever! After losing again on the dreaded things!

Wish itd Have happened years ago . I wouldn't have lost all that money

Surprised but delighted with this long overdue result even if it is years too late for Mr L.

From the bbc website

The maximum stake on fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) will be reduced to £2 under new rules unveiled by the government.

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

Sports Minister Tracey Crouch said reducing the stake to £2 "will reduce harm for the most vulnerable".

But bookmakers have warned it could lead to thousands of outlets closing.

w**********l, which generates just over half its retail revenues from FOBTs, described the government's decision as "unprecedented" and warned that 900 of its shops could become loss-making, potentially leading to job losses.

It said its full-year operating profit could fall by between £70m and £100m

Just goes to show that there is only ever one winner, the house!

Awe bless them, they are going to lose all that money, bet they don’t think of the people who have lost everything, s**m they are...

GVC Holdings, which owns l*******s, said it expected profit to be cut by about £160m in the first full year that the £2 limit is in force.

Shares in w**********l and GVC Holding both fell following the news.

Ms Crouch said: "We recognise the potential impact of this change for betting shops which depend on (FOBT) revenues, but also that this is an industry that is innovative and able to adapt to changes."

The gambling industry will be fine i have no fear.

Their shareholders will still get hefty bonuses from the different ways they still get addicts and gamblers in

Yes it will help some, but they will innovate. Gambling has existed since time began, dont see it ending anytime soon.

It will just push hardened gamblers to online . You can stand outside the bookies on your phone and lose thousands that way I would imagine

Poor them!!! So what did they do before the FOBT. It just goes to show how much they rely on the addicts to boost profits, line pockets and increase the workforce. I personally went to the bookmaker as opposed to online to get that instant ' fix' instead of having to wait for the money to hit my account. As I said before I have fuelled around 300k into these machine since the age of 25. I am highly addicted. I lost 8k in one sitting once all because I was £100 down and trying to chase a loss. Ive seen grown men cry their eyes out. Punters fuelled with anger banging and thrashing machines because of huge losses. I was spat at once by someone who thought i was homeless. Id sat in the bookies all day from.9am until 9 at night having just got out of bed heading straight there. For me this , although a bit late in the day, couldn't be better news. I have gambled online which again is dangerous for me as I always try and recuperate losses. Im flat broke but determined to try and make a fresh start.

Yes I have no time for the counter argument. As far as I am concerned the bookies including the counter staff know the damage it does. I saw it written all over their faces as they blagged it out with meaningless shallow banter.

I would shed no tears for job losses because I see the misery it causes and the staff must be aware of that They should do something constructive and helpful in a proper job. In my view it takes a certain kind of delusion and cynicism to do that job. Heck I would be happier if they were on the dole and the bookies shops did not exist,

Im sorry but there are far too many jobs preying on people at the moment and I will tell it as it is.

Now the £2 is a step in the right direction but its not the be all and end all because I lost loads on lower stakes.

Short of a ban I would like to see other measures like mandatory time and finance limits. A declaration of cash and a much shorter time allowance. I would want a signing in system and some sort of registration on status/ income. Im not sure how that would work because its against the interests of the high street dens. I know any formality and protective measures like that could have scared me off because I liked my anonymity and being left alone to wallow in my addiction.

So I have a sinking feeling that any step is better than nothing but Im not naive about how dangerous and deregulated gambling continues to be