While focusing on how to increase taxes on remote gambling, officials seem to have forgotten about the more pressing issue of FOBTs.

UK’s problems with fixed-odds betting terminals are at the center of attention again. The latest gambling news have brought the issue up again, by publishing the story of a former gambling addict who revealed how he spent GBP200,000 on betting machines, over the past ten years.

Meanwhile, the government is having difficulty implementing its changes to the current remote gambling laws after online operators have challenged the decision in court, but the FOBT issue has not been handled yet. Politicians have talked about reducing the maximum stake from GBP100 to GBP50, but for now online casinos and sportsbooks seem to be a priority.

Other amendments granting local councils the power to deny betting shop applications were announced earlier this year, but they haven’t been implemented yet.

The Mirror: Gambling addict blew £200,000 in ten years after becoming hooked on fixed odds betting terminals

In an interview with The Mirror, a former gambling addict tells reporters how he blew GBP200,000 on FOBTs. Simon Perfitt had a good job, but in ten years he went from a GBP50,000 salary to living on benefits after becoming hooked on the controversial machines. He blew up to GBP3,000 per day, he told reporters.

Simon says he didn’t start betting until de has 45, but it only took him ten years to lose all that money. In 2001, the businessman from Dudley was living a lavish lifestyle. He could afford it, thanks to his well-paid in e-commerce. He had also just moved in with his girlfriend. But after becoming addicted to gambling machines – he liked to play roulette – he lost all of his hard-earned money.

“These fixed odds betting terminals destroy you. I became addicted instantly after a friend who played the machines asked me to pop into a bookies one day and have a go. After that, all I thought about all day was gambling.”

“I worked to go on these machines and could spend up to 12 hours a day in there. I used to get up early and go in to the bookies before I went to work, at lunchtime and would go straight into one after work. Within 10 years I had lost GBP200,000, a relationship and my home as well. My whole personality changed. I became very introverted, made excuses not to see family and friends,” he told reporters.

FOBTs have been dubbed the crack cocaine of gambling and have been causing players to lose fortunes. These betting machines bring bookmakers GBP1.5 billion in profits every year.

The Telegraph: Councils to get power to ban new betting shops in blow for gaming industry

The Government said it would give local councils the power to stop new betting shops from opening in their towns. The administration intends to create a new planning class for betting shops, which would allow councils to monitor new applications more closely, as well as to veto them.

The measure is designed to limit concerns over the damaging effects of gambling machines, especially fixed-odds betting terminals, found inside most betting shops. Critics refer to them as “crack cocaine” gambling machines because of their addictive nature.

The industry is expected to oppose resistance to such measures. William Hill has already announced its intentions to close more than 100 betting shops, blaming it in the increased taxes on FOBTs. But even so, the gambling machines are the highly profitable and account for a large part of the land-based betting sector’s profits.

Sources cited by the Telegraph said the new gambling laws would also force companies to comply with protection measures, including promotions and window displays.

The Guardian: Maximum cash stake on fixed-odds betting terminals to be restricted

After anti-betting groups have voiced complaints over the damaging effect of FOBTs, the government said it would impose a GBP50 limit on the maximum wager allowed on these machines, instead of the higher GBP100 stake allowed at present.

The new rules would require anyone who wants to bet more than GBP50 at a time to inform staff. Gamblers would be given the alternative to open an online account, where their spending history can be tracked. Campaigners are still unsatisfied with the announced measures, claiming that ministers have “ducked the big issue” by not cutting the maximum bet in all circumstances.

Matt Zarb-Cousin of the Campaign for Fairer Gambling told reporters: “Staff intervention does not mean player protection. We know from academic studies that employee training is the most commonly tried method to control problem gambling and the least effective. Why would staff stop people from putting money into FOBTs when their pay depends on it?”

On the other hand, the Association of British Bookmakers said new measures would “restrict growth for the sector and mean hundreds of shops and thousands of jobs are now at risk”.

In an assessment released by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, officials argued that “account-based play allows players access to up-to-date information which can reduce biased or irrational gambling… and help people maintain control.”

“Making payments over the counter rather than on to the machine directly can provide opportunities for intervention which may give players a reality check,” it added.

While focusing on how to increase taxes on remote gambling, officials seem to have forgotten about the more pressing issue of FOBTs.

UK’s problems with fixed-odds betting terminals are at the center of attention again. The latest gambling news have brought the issue up again, by publishing the story of a former gambling addict who revealed how he spent GBP200,000 on betting machines, over the past ten years.

Meanwhile, the government is having difficulty implementing its changes to the current remote gambling laws after online operators have challenged the decision in court, but the FOBT issue has not been handled yet. Politicians have talked about reducing the maximum stake from GBP100 to GBP50, but for now online casinos and sportsbooks seem to be a priority.

Other amendments granting local councils the power to deny betting shop applications were announced earlier this year, but they haven’t been implemented yet.

The Mirror: Gambling addict blew £200,000 in ten years after becoming hooked on fixed odds betting terminals

In an interview with The Mirror, a former gambling addict tells reporters how he blew GBP200,000 on FOBTs. Simon Perfitt had a good job, but in ten years he went from a GBP50,000 salary to living on benefits after becoming hooked on the controversial machines. He blew up to GBP3,000 per day, he told reporters.

Simon says he didn’t start betting until de has 45, but it only took him ten years to lose all that money. In 2001, the businessman from Dudley was living a lavish lifestyle. He could afford it, thanks to his well-paid in e-commerce. He had also just moved in with his girlfriend. But after becoming addicted to gambling machines – he liked to play roulette – he lost all of his hard-earned money.

“These fixed odds betting terminals destroy you. I became addicted instantly after a friend who played the machines asked me to pop into a bookies one day and have a go. After that, all I thought about all day was gambling.”

“I worked to go on these machines and could spend up to 12 hours a day in there. I used to get up early and go in to the bookies before I went to work, at lunchtime and would go straight into one after work. Within 10 years I had lost GBP200,000, a relationship and my home as well. My whole personality changed. I became very introverted, made excuses not to see family and friends,” he told reporters.

FOBTs have been dubbed the crack cocaine of gambling and have been causing players to lose fortunes. These betting machines bring bookmakers GBP1.5 billion in profits every year.

The Telegraph: Councils to get power to ban new betting shops in blow for gaming industry

The Government said it would give local councils the power to stop new betting shops from opening in their towns. The administration intends to create a new planning class for betting shops, which would allow councils to monitor new applications more closely, as well as to veto them.

The measure is designed to limit concerns over the damaging effects of gambling machines, especially fixed-odds betting terminals, found inside most betting shops. Critics refer to them as “crack cocaine” gambling machines because of their addictive nature.

The industry is expected to oppose resistance to such measures. William Hill has already announced its intentions to close more than 100 betting shops, blaming it in the increased taxes on FOBTs. But even so, the gambling machines are the highly profitable and account for a large part of the land-based betting sector’s profits.

Sources cited by the Telegraph said the new gambling laws would also force companies to comply with protection measures, including promotions and window displays.

The Guardian: Maximum cash stake on fixed-odds betting terminals to be restricted

After anti-betting groups have voiced complaints over the damaging effect of FOBTs, the government said it would impose a GBP50 limit on the maximum wager allowed on these machines, instead of the higher GBP100 stake allowed at present.

The new rules would require anyone who wants to bet more than GBP50 at a time to inform staff. Gamblers would be given the alternative to open an online account, where their spending history can be tracked. Campaigners are still unsatisfied with the announced measures, claiming that ministers have “ducked the big issue” by not cutting the maximum bet in all circumstances.

Matt Zarb-Cousin of the Campaign for Fairer Gambling told reporters: “Staff intervention does not mean player protection. We know from academic studies that employee training is the most commonly tried method to control problem gambling and the least effective. Why would staff stop people from putting money into FOBTs when their pay depends on it?”

On the other hand, the Association of British Bookmakers said new measures would “restrict growth for the sector and mean hundreds of shops and thousands of jobs are now at risk”.

In an assessment released by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, officials argued that “account-based play allows players access to up-to-date information which can reduce biased or irrational gambling… and help people maintain control.”

“Making payments over the counter rather than on to the machine directly can provide opportunities for intervention which may give players a reality check,” it added.

Officials say GBP69 million have been returned to the Olympic lottery distribution fund.

Last year Hugh Robertson, the former minister for sport and tourism, promised to pay lottery distributors part of their money back by July 2014. The Government official promised to return between GBP100 million and GBP150 million of unspent funds and proceeds from the sale of the Olympic athletes village.

Now Helen Grant, who has taken over his position, announced that money has been placed in the Olympic Lottery Distribution Fund. The news came through a letter sent to the Directory of Social Change (DSC).

According to gambling news, the previous government raised GBP675 million from lottery distributors to help pay for the 2012 London Olympics, with the biggest part of it coming from the Big Lottery Fund. After the end of the Olympic Games, National Lottery minister John Penrose said contributors would most likely be paid back by 2030 or 2031.

Third Sector: Government says £69m of Olympic money is set to be returned to lottery distributors

Earlier in July, the Government paid back an initial GBP79 million of the promised GBP150 million. Back then, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport said the rest of the money would come “later in the year”.

This month Helen Grant, minister for sport and tourism, sent a letter to the DSC saying that the GBP69.2 million sale of the Olympic Village was completed on August 6. The money resulting from these proceeds has been placed in the Olympic Lottery Distribution Fund, Grant said.

“The process for the final closure of the OLDF is now under way, and the balance will be moved to the National Lottery Distribution Fund for allocation in the usual proportions to good causes,” she wrote in the letter.

Under the country’s gambling laws, the National Lottery distributes good-cause money to lottery distributors such as the Big Lottery Fund, the Heritage Lottery Fund and Sport England.

DSC policy and research director Jay Kennedy said: “It is a good thing that now we know the village deal has concluded, the GBP69 million refund is happening and it isn’t going to drag on further into the end of the year.”

“But the government had originally said that this money from the athletes village sale would be coming back in July along with the GBP69 million in unspent OLDF funds.”

UK FundRaising: Big Lottery Refund campaign secures £148m refund

Led by the Director of Social Change, the Big Lottery Refund campaign to persuade the Government to return GBP425 million of Olympic money to the lottery fund was supported by 3,600 charitable organizations. The first signs that the campaign was making an impact came at the end of July, when authorities made an initial payment of GBP79 million out of the amount owed.

Considering that former sports minister Hugh Robertson promised to pay GBP150 million by July 2014, the partial refund was paid only at the very last minute. Out of the GBP79 million returned, GBP60 million is going to the Big Lottery Fund, and the rest to other lottery distributors.

“This is a brilliant victory for our supporters – their hundreds of letters to MPs and Ministers, statements to the press, and awareness-raising have held Government to account,” Jay Kennedy, Director of Policy and Research at DSC said in a statement.

“I want to thank them for their efforts. Without their support and pressure, I honestly believe Government might have just siphoned this cash off somewhere else. Now that it has been returned to the Lottery it can benefit charitable good causes across the country.”

The Telegraph: We want our share of the £528million Olympic surplus now, say charities

After the UK Government used money from lottery funds to organize the 2012 London Olympics, charities are asking for the money back. Last July, some organizations have accused ministers of pocketing hundreds of millions of pounds instead of returning what they borrowed.

This happened soon after sports minister Hugh Robertson disclosed that GBP528 million had been saved from the Olympics’ and Paralympics’ budget. The Government was planning on giving the money to the Treasury, but charities have criticized the decision claiming that part of the money should be returned to the Big Lottery Fund, after officials raised GBP425 million from lottery causes to help fund the Olympics and Paralympics Games.

Jay Kennedy, director of Policy and Research at the DSC told reporters: “Now that this money has gone unspent there really is no morally defensible reason why charities should not be paid back. There is a concern that the Government is playing politics with this money and using it to bring down the headline deficit figure.”

In its defense, the Big Lottery Refund argued that, despite having nothing to do with elite sports, it became the biggest Olympic lottery contributor. The amount it raised could have funded more than 10,000 charities, the organization said.

Officials say GBP69 million have been returned to the Olympic lottery distribution fund.

Last year Hugh Robertson, the former minister for sport and tourism, promised to pay lottery distributors part of their money back by July 2014. The Government official promised to return between GBP100 million and GBP150 million of unspent funds and proceeds from the sale of the Olympic athletes village.

Now Helen Grant, who has taken over his position, announced that money has been placed in the Olympic Lottery Distribution Fund. The news came through a letter sent to the Directory of Social Change (DSC).

According to gambling news, the previous government raised GBP675 million from lottery distributors to help pay for the 2012 London Olympics, with the biggest part of it coming from the Big Lottery Fund. After the end of the Olympic Games, National Lottery minister John Penrose said contributors would most likely be paid back by 2030 or 2031.

Third Sector: Government says £69m of Olympic money is set to be returned to lottery distributors

Earlier in July, the Government paid back an initial GBP79 million of the promised GBP150 million. Back then, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport said the rest of the money would come “later in the year”.

This month Helen Grant, minister for sport and tourism, sent a letter to the DSC saying that the GBP69.2 million sale of the Olympic Village was completed on August 6. The money resulting from these proceeds has been placed in the Olympic Lottery Distribution Fund, Grant said.

“The process for the final closure of the OLDF is now under way, and the balance will be moved to the National Lottery Distribution Fund for allocation in the usual proportions to good causes,” she wrote in the letter.

Under the country’s gambling laws, the National Lottery distributes good-cause money to lottery distributors such as the Big Lottery Fund, the Heritage Lottery Fund and Sport England.

DSC policy and research director Jay Kennedy said: “It is a good thing that now we know the village deal has concluded, the GBP69 million refund is happening and it isn’t going to drag on further into the end of the year.”

“But the government had originally said that this money from the athletes village sale would be coming back in July along with the GBP69 million in unspent OLDF funds.”

UK FundRaising: Big Lottery Refund campaign secures £148m refund

Led by the Director of Social Change, the Big Lottery Refund campaign to persuade the Government to return GBP425 million of Olympic money to the lottery fund was supported by 3,600 charitable organizations. The first signs that the campaign was making an impact came at the end of July, when authorities made an initial payment of GBP79 million out of the amount owed.

Considering that former sports minister Hugh Robertson promised to pay GBP150 million by July 2014, the partial refund was paid only at the very last minute. Out of the GBP79 million returned, GBP60 million is going to the Big Lottery Fund, and the rest to other lottery distributors.

“This is a brilliant victory for our supporters – their hundreds of letters to MPs and Ministers, statements to the press, and awareness-raising have held Government to account,” Jay Kennedy, Director of Policy and Research at DSC said in a statement.

“I want to thank them for their efforts. Without their support and pressure, I honestly believe Government might have just siphoned this cash off somewhere else. Now that it has been returned to the Lottery it can benefit charitable good causes across the country.”

The Telegraph: We want our share of the £528million Olympic surplus now, say charities

After the UK Government used money from lottery funds to organize the 2012 London Olympics, charities are asking for the money back. Last July, some organizations have accused ministers of pocketing hundreds of millions of pounds instead of returning what they borrowed.

This happened soon after sports minister Hugh Robertson disclosed that GBP528 million had been saved from the Olympics’ and Paralympics’ budget. The Government was planning on giving the money to the Treasury, but charities have criticized the decision claiming that part of the money should be returned to the Big Lottery Fund, after officials raised GBP425 million from lottery causes to help fund the Olympics and Paralympics Games.

Jay Kennedy, director of Policy and Research at the DSC told reporters: “Now that this money has gone unspent there really is no morally defensible reason why charities should not be paid back. There is a concern that the Government is playing politics with this money and using it to bring down the headline deficit figure.”

In its defense, the Big Lottery Refund argued that, despite having nothing to do with elite sports, it became the biggest Olympic lottery contributor. The amount it raised could have funded more than 10,000 charities, the organization said.

Paddy Power has been pulling all of the stops and stunts when it comes to advertising lately and the stunts seem to be garnering more and more attention. The latest opportunity has presented itself and Paddy Power took it – the company has sponsored the “Sin Bin” a confessional booth in a Catholic Church.

The Telegraph: Paddy Power betting firm sponsors church confession box

Paddy Power has paid £10,000 and sponsored a new confessional booth in Our Lady & St Etheldreda church in the racing town of Newmarket, Suffolk. Jockey Frankie Dettori, who was married in the church, performed the official opening ceremony yesterday.

The Dublin-based bookmaker has 200 offices in Ireland, 100 in Britain and a turnover of £2 billion. The betting company hopes that confessing your sins in a Paddy Power confession box will become a tradition for race-goers.

Sicilian-born Dettori, who is riding the Guineas meeting in Newmarket this weekend, said: “I was married in this church 13 years ago and all five of my children were baptised here.
Fr Michael Griffin, the priest, said: “It was suggested by a parishoner that we should ask Paddy Power for help because of its horse-racing connections. We were very pleased when they generously agreed.”

The Guardian: Church bets on power of sponsorship

St Etheldreda Church in Newmarket decided to turn the sin of gambling at this weekend’s Guineas Festival to its favour. The Catholic Church has taken £10,000 from bookie Paddy Power in return for sponsorship rights to the confession box.

“Our church has felt for a long time that we should have closer ties with the horse racing industry in Newmarket,” said Fr. Griffin. “Through the generosity of Paddy Power this is now starting to happen.”

Generosity indeed, but how difficult will it be for some penitent punters to drop a coin in the “sin box” if they happen to have already lost their shirt on a bet placed with Paddy Power? God only knows.

BBC News: Bookmaker Paddy Power sponsors confessional box

An Irish bookmaker has paid £10,000 for a new confessional box at a Catholic church in Newmarket after he was approached for a donation.

Father Griffin said everyone “liked a flutter” and gambling was only a sin if it left a wife and family without food. The priest said that the person who made the call knew Paddy Power was the name of a betting shop chain but was surprised when Paddy Power himself answered the phone.

Father Griffin said that the church had been trying to raise a total of £65,000 for renovations, which also included a new altar and font. The rest of the money raised has come from legacies.

Paddy Power has been pulling all of the stops and stunts when it comes to advertising lately and the stunts seem to be garnering more and more attention. The latest opportunity has presented itself and Paddy Power took it – the company has sponsored the “Sin Bin” a confessional booth in a Catholic Church.

The Telegraph: Paddy Power betting firm sponsors church confession box

Paddy Power has paid £10,000 and sponsored a new confessional booth in Our Lady & St Etheldreda church in the racing town of Newmarket, Suffolk. Jockey Frankie Dettori, who was married in the church, performed the official opening ceremony yesterday.

The Dublin-based bookmaker has 200 offices in Ireland, 100 in Britain and a turnover of £2 billion. The betting company hopes that confessing your sins in a Paddy Power confession box will become a tradition for race-goers.

Sicilian-born Dettori, who is riding the Guineas meeting in Newmarket this weekend, said: “I was married in this church 13 years ago and all five of my children were baptised here.
Fr Michael Griffin, the priest, said: “It was suggested by a parishoner that we should ask Paddy Power for help because of its horse-racing connections. We were very pleased when they generously agreed.”

The Guardian: Church bets on power of sponsorship

St Etheldreda Church in Newmarket decided to turn the sin of gambling at this weekend’s Guineas Festival to its favour. The Catholic Church has taken £10,000 from bookie Paddy Power in return for sponsorship rights to the confession box.

“Our church has felt for a long time that we should have closer ties with the horse racing industry in Newmarket,” said Fr. Griffin. “Through the generosity of Paddy Power this is now starting to happen.”

Generosity indeed, but how difficult will it be for some penitent punters to drop a coin in the “sin box” if they happen to have already lost their shirt on a bet placed with Paddy Power? God only knows.

BBC News: Bookmaker Paddy Power sponsors confessional box

An Irish bookmaker has paid £10,000 for a new confessional box at a Catholic church in Newmarket after he was approached for a donation.

Father Griffin said everyone “liked a flutter” and gambling was only a sin if it left a wife and family without food. The priest said that the person who made the call knew Paddy Power was the name of a betting shop chain but was surprised when Paddy Power himself answered the phone.

Father Griffin said that the church had been trying to raise a total of £65,000 for renovations, which also included a new altar and font. The rest of the money raised has come from legacies.