Banking service???????

[snoop1130]

Britain weighs big cut in top stake on gambling machines

By Rahul B and Ben Martin

 

New one pound coins are displayed The Royal Mint, in Llantrisant, Wales, Britain, January 25, 2017. REUTERS/Rebecca Naden -

 

LONDON (Reuters) - The maximum stake on gambling machines in British betting shops could be sharply cut in response to concerns that the terminals -- a key source of revenue for bookmakers -- fuel addiction.

 

The top stake could be cut from 100 pounds to between 50 pounds and as little as 2 pounds, the government said on Tuesday, starting a 12-week consultation period.

 

The wide range of options left on the table sets the scene for a battle between the gambling industry and critics who are concerned about easy access to fixed odds betting terminals (FOBTs) in betting shops.

 

"Given the strong evidence and public concerns about the risks of high stakes gaming machines on the high street, we are convinced of the need for action," said Gambling Minister Tracey Crouch.

 

"That is why today we have set out a package of proposals to ensure all consumers and wider communities are protected," she added.

 

However, shares in London-listed gambling companies such as William Hill <WMH.L> and Ladbrokes Coral <LCL.L> gained 2.7 percent and 1.3 percent in early trade as the market took the upper 50 pound limit as benign for companies.

 

Settling the maximum stake is seen as likely to set off a further round of dealmaking in the gambling industry.

 

A FOBT is a touch screen machine that allows players to bet on the outcome of various games such as roulette.

 

The machines have helped to keep betting shops going when many younger gamblers have switched to betting on sports events using their smartphones or tablets.

 

MONEY SPINNER

 

Ladbrokes Coral -- which de-throned William Hill as the country's largest bookmaker after a merger last year -- made about 800 million pounds of revenue from gaming machines in 2016.

 

Ladbrokes said it would take active part in providing evidence during the consultation process and was hoping that the commitment of final outcome being evidence-led will remain in place.

 

William Hill said that it was pleased that the government recognised the industry's contribution to the wider economy.

 

"We are concerned that severe stake cuts remain an option and will play a full part in the consultation process to ensure an evidence based outcome," a William Hill spokesman said.

 

The government also said it would tighten guidelines on advertising to ensure that ads do not encourage impulsive or socially irresponsible gambling and gambling content cannot be accessed by children through social media.

 

The opposition Labour Party said the proposals did not go far enough.

 

"Britain is suffering from a hidden epidemic of gambling addiction," said Labour lawmaker Tom Watson.

 

"Labour is committed to reducing the maximum stake for FOBTs to 2 pounds a spin and will ban gambling company advertising on football shirts."

 

Others in the wider gambling industry lamented the failure to come up with a clear ruling.

 

"Yet again it doesn't give clarity," Brian Mattingley, chairman of online gambling company 888 which does not run any betting shops, told Reuters.

 

"I’m not surprised that the share prices have reacted positively because at least the draconian [£2 proposal] is not the only option."

 

(Additional reporting by Paul Sandle in London; Rahul B reported from Bengaluru; Editing by Louise Heavens/Keith Weir)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-10-31

[flossie35]

2p would be better still.

[Kadilo]

I’ll be amazed if they cut them to £2. Too many politicians will be getting back handlers from gambling companies to minimise cuts. The profits they get from them are huge.


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

[Basil B]

3 hours ago, Kadilo said:

I’ll be amazed if they cut them to £2. Too many politicians will be getting back handlers from gambling companies to minimise cuts. The profits they get from them are huge.


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

Should have herd the moron on BBC Radio 4 today trying to justify no change...

 

As part of my business I often have have to visit betting shops, and it is a big lie put out by the betting shops that they encourage there staff to stop vulnerable people betting more than they can afford, from what I have witnessed betting shops are often full of unemployed half wits who can not afford to to lose what they are losing.  

 

My thoughts on this are a £2 maximum bet, but also to bet a punter needs to register, and gets a contactless  card 

Has to hand over money to charge the card, the cashier can see how much the punter has spent in the last month and can stop the punter if he thinks he has a gambling problem.

 

The machines say roulette would only be allowed to spin the wheel at no less than 5 minute intervals, variable stakes minimum stake 20p or less, up side for the bookies is many punters can play a machine at the same time, and wins can be automatically credited to the punters account.

 

If a gamblers wants to place bigger stakes they should go to the casinos...

[Kadilo]

 I think you have hit the  nail on the head. The shop staff are neither trained nor interested in stopping people. A lot of the bookies now have doormen it’s got that bad. I have personally seen someone smash the machine into bits on anger when he was losing. The staff are terrified. These people are on prwrry

much minimum wage. Why would they get involved. 

Its spiralling our of comtrol and these machines are the catalyst. 

[GOLDBUGGY]

5 hours ago, Basil B said:

Should have herd the moron on BBC Radio 4 today trying to justify no change...

 

As part of my business I often have have to visit betting shops, and it is a big lie put out by the betting shops that they encourage there staff to stop vulnerable people betting more than they can afford, from what I have witnessed betting shops are often full of unemployed half wits who can not afford to to lose what they are losing.  

 

My thoughts on this are a £2 maximum bet, but also to bet a punter needs to register, and gets a contactless  card 

Has to hand over money to charge the card, the cashier can see how much the punter has spent in the last month and can stop the punter if he thinks he has a gambling problem.

 

The machines say roulette would only be allowed to spin the wheel at no less than 5 minute intervals, variable stakes minimum stake 20p or less, up side for the bookies is many punters can play a machine at the same time, and wins can be automatically credited to the punters account.

 

If a gamblers wants to place bigger stakes they should go to the casinos...

Trying to find laws to enforce gamblers with gambling addictions to quit, is like trying to find laws for people with alcohol addictions to quit.

 

Closing the Pub on Sunday's isn't going to stop the serious drinker from drinking. Telling somebody he has lost too much money last month and thus can't play there, isn't going to stop them either. They would just go to another place and be glad to get his business. Gamblers don't always lose money also.

 

The only one who is going to make this Addicted Gambler to quit is this Gambler! Providing free services to help them would go a long way. In Canada it is mandatory that every Gambling Machine has the telephone number to contact if you need help. And they do come to your aid if you do need help.

 

Whether is works or not for sure I don't know. I only know one guy closely who had this problem. Like drinking a lot of this is hidden from friends and family. He called and he got help and now doesn't gamble at all for many years, so I guess it worked for him.    

[Srikcir]

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

concerns that the terminals.... fuel addiction

Slowing down or reducing payout will still fuel alleged addiction unless the addicted is also restricted to number of visits to gambling shops in a day, week, month. Also, what's to prevent the compulsive gambler from having surrogates or cut-outs bet on their behalf?

[the guest]

Gambling in the UK is endemic. 

Edited November 1, 2017 by the guest

[Basil B]

6 hours ago, GOLDBUGGY said:

Trying to find laws to enforce gamblers with gambling addictions to quit, is like trying to find laws for people with alcohol addictions to quit.

 

Closing the Pub on Sunday's isn't going to stop the serious drinker from drinking. Telling somebody he has lost too much money last month and thus can't play there, isn't going to stop them either. They would just go to another place and be glad to get his business. Gamblers don't always lose money also.

 

The only one who is going to make this Addicted Gambler to quit is this Gambler! Providing free services to help them would go a long way. In Canada it is mandatory that every Gambling Machine has the telephone number to contact if you need help. And they do come to your aid if you do need help.

 

Whether is works or not for sure I don't know. I only know one guy closely who had this problem. Like drinking a lot of this is hidden from friends and family. He called and he got help and now doesn't gamble at all for many years, so I guess it worked for him.    

But a publican can lose his licence...

 

Let's see a few bookmakers closed down.

[Basil B]

4 hours ago, the guest said:

Gambling in the UK is endemic. 

Gambling in the UK is endemic by those who can not afford to gamble in the first place, it is next worst plague on society following drug addiction.

[Stupooey]

Maybe the UK should encompass Buddhism. After all, gambling contradicts the basic tenets of the doctrine (I almost said religion for a moment), meaning that no one can gamble with money and call themselves a Buddhist.

[GOLDBUGGY]

5 hours ago, Basil B said:

But a publican can lose his licence...

 

Let's see a few bookmakers closed down.

Closing down a few Bookmakers is not going to change anything. That is like in the Dirty 30's when they thought they could get people to stop drinking by making it illegal and then started the Prohibition Years.

 

Sure, perhaps this did cause some people to drink less. But then with so much cheap Home Brew floating around with no luxury tax on it, it also may have cause people to drink more. My point being that trying to ban alcohol caused more problems then it solved.

 

There are 3 Vices that no matter if you like them or not you will never be able to stop. Drinking Alcohol, Prostitution, and Gambling. If you try to force people to stop it will just go underground and makes matters worst.

 

Warning Kids as to the dangers of taking drugs, and teaching them to say no, works far better than trying to catch every Pusher on the street who would gladly sell them these.

[Basil B]

3 hours ago, GOLDBUGGY said:

Closing down a few Bookmakers is not going to change anything. That is like in the Dirty 30's when they thought they could get people to stop drinking by making it illegal and then started the Prohibition Years.

 

Sure, perhaps this did cause some people to drink less. But then with so much cheap Home Brew floating around with no luxury tax on it, it also may have cause people to drink more. My point being that trying to ban alcohol caused more problems then it solved.

 

There are 3 Vices that no matter if you like them or not you will never be able to stop. Drinking Alcohol, Prostitution, and Gambling. If you try to force people to stop it will just go underground and makes matters worst.

 

Warning Kids as to the dangers of taking drugs, and teaching them to say no, works far better than trying to catch every Pusher on the street who would gladly sell them these.

My thoughts were aimed at getting rid of the worst...

 

Lets see the branch mangers having to hold licences like publicans have to.

Remove/suspend mangers licences and/or close down betting shops for:

• Under age betting
• Drugs used or traded on the premises
• Allowing punters to bet where the betting shop has been advised that the punter has financial difficulties and/or is addicted to gambling. 
• any other illegal activity

[GOLDBUGGY]

8 hours ago, Basil B said:

My thoughts were aimed at getting rid of the worst...

 

Lets see the branch mangers having to hold licences like publicans have to.

Remove/suspend mangers licences and/or close down betting shops for:

• Under age betting
• Drugs used or traded on the premises
• Allowing punters to bet where the betting shop has been advised that the punter has financial difficulties and/or is addicted to gambling. 
• any other illegal activity

I am not sure who governs gambling in the UK, but in Canada Gambling falls under the Alcohol Acts, and Drinking and Gambling are governed by the same people. In other words they go hand in hand.

 

You need a Liquor License to sell alcohol and to allow people to drink that in your establishment and also to allow you to have Gambling Machines in your place as well. You can not go to your local Pharmacy or 7-11 and play a Gambling Machine. They are restricted to Bars (Pubs) and Casinos.

 

Having and keeping a Liquor License requires the owner to follow many strict rules. Many of which if you break you will have your license suspended, or taken away. One of these rules is Under Age Drinking. So when you stop Under Age Drinking, you also stop Under Age Betting as well. As an Owner, and if you allow or carry out any illegal activity in your establishment, you will have your License taken away. So they have laws already that take care of most of your concerns.

 

As an Owner of one of these places, who is going to advice you that one of your customers has a gambling problem. His wife? Then in that case I would think it is his wife who should get help for him and not expect it to come from you. Cancelling his credit cards by her is going to do more for him then you telling him he has to gamble someplace else.

 

Financial Difficulties? That is for Banks to investigate and figure out and not Pubs. Addicted to Gambling? I was close to one person who was, but I never knew this for many years and until he told me. So how do you expect anyone who owns a Gambling Establishment to know if they have an Addiction or not? How many Pubs do you know that refuses a guy a drink in there Pub because he has 4 a day and may be an Alcoholic?

 

Not everyone who gambles is a low life and can't afford it either. Just like everyone who is an Alcoholic is not like that to. It is well know that Celine Dion's Husband had a Million Dollar Credit Limit each in 3 Casinos in Los Vegas. He loved to gamble. So what do you do to a guy like that?

 

Your actions are noble, and it is nice to say that gambling should not be legal. But once you do that then Gambling just goes Underground, and continues to flourish. In the United States, at one time, Gambling was only legal in the State of Nevada (Los Vegas) (Reno). But over time, Gambling and Casinos became legal in all Provinces in Canada. So what happened next?

 

Bus Loads of Tourist from Bordering States came up to Canada for the weekend, to Drink and Gamble. This went on for years and expanded with weekday tours for the Older Generation. Once these Bordering States began to see how much money they were losing they were forced to make a choice and change there rules. Now most of these States have Casinos to.

 

This is just a good example of how when they try to get rid of Gambling, it turns on them for the worst. Thailand doesn't allow Gambling yet, but look what is happening in Cambodia to attract Tourist. They plan to soon install another 900 Gambling Machines on the Border with Thailand.