News

Dr. Alan Smith, the Bishop of St Albans, started a fierce attack on the Government’s decision to put back the introduction of the new maximum stake on fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs). He commented on the delay in an online article for the Observer, saying that the new betting limit on the machine should be rolled out as soon as possible in order for the Government to make sure that people, who were potentially in danger of becoming problem gamblers or were already suffering from gambling addiction, were protected. The Bishop…

Tracey Crouch, Minister of Sports and Civil Society, has resigned to object the UK Government’s unwillingness to roll out the crackdown on infamous fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) quicker. Ms. Crouch has been one of the most active politicians who joined the campaign against the addictive machines, launching a review according to which FOBT stakes should have been reduced from £100 to £2. Her resignation comes only a few days after the Chancellor revealed next year’s budget and it became clear that the long-expected changes would not be put into action…

The Sports and Civil Society Minister Tracey Crouch is considering a possible departure from her current role following the UK Government’s announcement that the planned reduction of fixed-odds betting terminals’ maximum stake will be delayed until October 2019, The Telegraph has revealed. According to media reports, Ms. Crouch has not been satisfied with the delayed reduction in FOBT stakes to £2 which the Treasury revealed a few days ago. The Telegraph contacted her on Wednesday evening while she is on a visit to the US, and Minister Crouch did not…

The New South Wales (NSW) Government has shared that a gambling policies reform package which was introduced earlier in 2018 has resulted in an increase in the local residents’ losses generated on poker machines, also known as pokies. The changes in question were rolled out in March 2018. At the time they were rolled out, Paul Toole, the racing minister, described them as “the most significant set of reforms” brought to the gaming regulation of NSW in no less than a decade. The gambling policies amendments were backed by the…

Gibraltar is trying to stop gambling companies from relocating to Malta after BREXIT. The British Overseas Territory, which has long been an attractive destination for gambling operators due to its favourable gambling legislation, could soon face some negative consequences due to UK’s exit from the European Union (EU). Some concerns were raised at the time when bet365 and 888, which are currently two of the largest online gambling companies based in Gibraltar, announced their intentions to relocate some (or even most) of their operations to Malta because of BREXIT. However,…

Once again, the UK Chancellor has been urged to proceed with the planned reduction of the maximum stake allowed on controversial fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs). A large number of local councils have called Mr. Philip Hammond not to delay the crackdown on infamous gambling machines in order to tackle gambling-related harm. Chancellor Hammond is expected to officially reveal the deadline for the announced changes today, along with the next year’s budget. Only a few days ago, media reports emerged that the long-expected changes in the FOBT regime are most likely…

According to media reports, the expected reduction in the maximum stake of fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) will take effect in October 2019 at the earliest. Yesterday, The Guardian found that the deadlines for British bookmakers to slash the maximum stakes on the notoriously addictive machines from £100 to £2 will be delayed until next year. According to plans regarding next week’s budget, which has included an amount of £900 million expected to be won by local bookmakers, the expected change in the FOBTs regime is most likely to take place…

The National Gambling Helpline provided some new figures revealing that the number of problem gamblers who have been calling the helpline has increased by over 30%. New data revealed by the UK-wide helpline service showed that a total of 29,889 calls were received by National Gambling Helpline workers in 2017/2018. The figure represented an increase from the 22,875 calls received only several years ago, in the 2013/2014. As explained by the Chief Executive Officer of the National Gambling Helpline, Anna Hemmings, shared that approximately two-thirds of the calls received by…

The ban which has been imposed on casinos in Torfaen county borough in Wales will now be lifted, with all possible license applications set to be considered in accordance with the applicants’ good and bad qualities. Local councillors have made a decision to bring some changes in Torfaen’s gambling policy, under which casino applications are banned in the borough. The current gambling policy is set to end in January 2019. The change basically means that as of February 2019, all casino licence applications will be taken into consideration on their…

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) reminded that its new rules are to come into effect on October 31st. As previously reported by Casino Guardian, the changes which are to be brought to the License conditions and codes of practice are set to make sure that the consumers are well protected from possible gambling-related harm. The updated rules are also going to ensure that fair treatment is received by all customers from local gambling operators. The Commission published a video, in which the Programme Director for Consumer Protection and Empowerment, Ian…