Categories: Sports News
| Published On Jul 1, 2017 3:00 pm CEST  |  Updated on May 6, 2021 7:13 pm CEST | By iGaming Team

A Gap in Treasury and DCMS Invites Delay in Betting Terminal Review

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Owing to complication created between the Treasury and the government departments associated with the gambling industry, the long-awaited review of fixed-odds betting terminals gets postponed until autumn. The complexity has also increased due to the MPs of the Democratic Unionist Party, who are holding the balance of power in parliament and are expecting a cut in maximum fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) stake from £100 to as low as £2.

 As per the Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS), the gambling machines are disputed by bookmakers. It may push hundreds of gamblers to lose thousands of pounds within few hours. Tracey Crouch MP, the Conservative minister, has suggested DCMS to ensure the review is evidence-based and follows correct procedures.

 As per the Guardian sources, the emerging influence of the DUP along with Treasury is said to be the key reason behind this delay. If Department for Culture Media and Sport recommends a major curb on FOBTs, then the Treasury is understood to be concerned at the impact on tax receipts which took a record £1.8bn from British gamblers last year.