RSPH has welcomed the news that the UK government is planning to reduce the maximum stake on fixed odds betting terminals (FOBTs). In 2015, RSPH published its report Health on the High Street and bookmakers were a key retail outlet in its analysis.

RSPH called for the reduction of the maximum stakes on FOBTs to considerably lower than the current £100, highlighting that FOBT games can be played rapidly and repeatedly, posing a real issue for gambling addiction and the negative health impacts that stem from it.

The announcement from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, is based on a government consultation that began in October 2016 to review gaming machines. A further consultation will now take place until January 2018 to determine what the regulatory maximum stake should be, with options being considered between £50 and £2. The government will also be consulting on corresponding​ ​social responsibility​ ​measures​ ​across ​a range of ​gaming​ ​machines​ ​and platforms to ensure harm to consumers is minimised.

The impact of gambling addiction on health and wellbeing is well documented, impacting individuals, families and communities. Problem gambling is highest in the most deprived communities and among the unemployed, and is frequently co-morbid with a range of other conditions including depression, alcoholism and substance abuse.

RSPH hopes that the reduction in maximum stakes for FOBTs will be one step towards addressing the issue of problem gambling and the health inequalities that it propagates.