Betfred’s MD urges UK government on FOBT changes

Betfred’s Managing Director, Mark Stebbing, has called on the UK government to reconsider its plans to reduce fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) stake to £2 maximum.

According to UK bookmakers, this would result in closing 4,000 betting shops and more than 20,000 jobs being lost, as well as a sharp decline in the amount of government tax on gambling taxes.

Betfred’s MD, said: “I want to be sure when the government makes its decision it is aware of the consequences on people’s jobs, livelihoods and families, if it decides to propose a £2 maximum stake,”

“These are people we have employed, trained and worked with for many years, and much upset and heartache will go into having to make them redundant,” he continued.

“In addition, there will be a huge impact on indirect jobs, with Betfred having 592 suppliers alone. As managing director, I owe it to the thousands of staff to make sure the government knows that when it comes to jobs the stakes are high.”

He added: “Any government action should be based on evidence alone and it must be recognised that responsible gambling is already, and will remain, the industry’s number-one priority.”