Don Foster MP announces government review of FOBTs

The Coalition’s all powerful quad – Mr Cameron, Mr Clegg, George Osborne and Danny Alexander – has agreed to reject a call from the Commons culture committee for there to be fewer restrictions on B2 gaming machines. (FOBTs)

Instead Don Foster MP has announced that there will be a review of the FOBTs by the Responsible in Gambling Trust (RGT) that will look into stakes, numbers of machines and prize levels.

There is still a concern though in gambling reform circles that unless the gambling industry trustees are made to step down from the Responsible in Gambling Trust (RGT) the review of FOBTs will not be impartial and unbiased. 


Full details can be read in the Daily Mail Tough new curbs high stake gambling machines bid protect problem punters.html

As you might expect William Hill has reacted to the government announcement with its usual story line: Government is gambling with peoples jobs.  

A few low paid minimum wage jobs and one off tax payments* to the treasury does not offset the damage caused by FOBTs to individuals, families, and communities up and down the country as well as to the economy. See also my previous post: Time for Anger: Gov't backs FOBT Human Misery over sustainable economic growth.     
*Gambling profits are typically transferred out of the local economy and offshore and therefore taxation is one off.

The indifference of the betting shop companies to the human cost of addiction caused by FOBTs is frankly vile. William Hill in response to Don Foster's announcement state: -

'Media stories that focus on isolated cases of problem gambling are sad, but again, not a basis for sound gambling policy.' 

The Grasp Group, a charity set-up to raise awareness of problem gambling & reform the industry has many members who have lost thousands of pounds, sometimes tens or hundreds of thousands of pounds to FOBT addiction. These are not isolated cases of problem gambling but a serious problem that will grow to epidemic proportions if not dealt with now. 

The betting shop corporates do not take any responsibility for the serious harm caused by installing electronic roulette every few yards down the high street along with numerous other casino games on their FOBT terminals. They are completely indifferent to lives ruined, or lives lost as a result of gambling addiction. 

Gambling addiction has become known as the 'secret addiction' as the problem gambler often hides their problem from friends and family for many years. Often the existence or extent of the problem only becomes known about when the gambler hits rock bottom.

William Hill's response demonstrates clearly that they are only interested in seeking to protect their financial position with tired arguments that increasingly the public and the press have grown wise to.

The government must act now to correct the errors of the Gambling Act 2005 that allowed roulette, and other casino games to take over our high streets every few yards. 

 

Gambling addiction, crime and debt #problemgambling

This is an email I sent today, and I wanted to share on here omitting the recipient of course ;)

Sorry for the delay in reply, I have a lot going on right now and I wanted to be able to write to you with a clear head.

Firstly its really encouraging that there are people around who care for their neighbours, and that even though you are not a gambler yourself you can see the damage it is doing, not just to the addicts but to the whole community.

I will speak a little from my experience; everywhere I have lived I have maxed out every time on debt to fund my gambling addiction. In my twenties I was committing crime to the tune of £10,000s a month, not something I am in the slightest bit proud of. (I won't go into details other than to say it was of non violent nature.)

The problem for me has always been electronic gambling, so slots, FBOTs, mobile phone, TV and Internet gambling. I knew I had a problem in my early twenties (20 years ago now) but there was scant help around at the time and the drive to gamble was far stronger than the support I could find. but believe you me I was crying out for help.

Gambling has been my entire life, I moved around all over the place ditching friends when things became too hot. I borrowed money off anybody who'd lend to me to fuel my addiction, and so in the end I was constantly running and starting again. As a consequence I feel pretty lonely in my life today.

As gambling was my total life from about the age of 11, I didn't participate in normal activities with other children nor did I acquire hobbies. So now that I no longer gamble it is still a massive struggle to fill time, plus years of smashing the repeat bet button has its toll on my ability to keep still or focus at times.

I started a new life out of the UK (in my thirties) and repeated all the same mistakes with internet gambling and VLTs (same thing as FOBTs) and in the process lost my flat, and all my possessions. So what, its only material shit I know. So i live on the goodwill of my wife's parents for now but I am not living together with my wife and son. She is at her mums and I am at her dads.

Where we are currently there is no safety net, so no housing benefit or income support so if you have nothing you have nothing. I am unemployable it seems in Central Europe, I suspect in part because of my gambling addiction being now well known about in HR circles. Well I have sent over 1,000 CV applications and had 2 interviews and no job offers. And I don't believe that I'm completely incapable.

I say this not because I feel sorry for myself but because there is absolutely no need for anybody to go through what I have been through. I want people to know the consequences and I want the government and regulators to sit up and listen to stories like mine.

1. FOBTs or their equivalent are highly addictive, and they should be in highly controlled and regulated environments. In my view in casinos only and with 24 hour minimum wait on membership requirement.
2. Internet gambling needs to be taxed at point of access not supply and the EU should come together in my opinion to make this happen. 
3. Credit cards should be prohibited for internet gambling transactions.
4. Minimum age for gambling should be at least 18 and possibly 21.

This would go a very long way to making gambling safer for the vulnerable, and far more than self exclusion which just puts all the responsibility on the person with the gambling addiction/sickness and none on the betting establishment.

When gambling becomes an addiction the end game is that it will likely be funded by crime or running up debts, totally undesirable consequences on the general public that would be substantially reduced by changing the law as per the points above.

I am no longer ashamed to speak out about my addiction, nor to discuss where it led me, only by speaking out can we hope to continue to raise the profile of gambling addiction and be successful in achieving gambling reform.

My battle still continues, I can't find work, I don't have a permanent place to live with my family, my personal relationships and particularly with my wife are extremely strained, I'm in a very big financial mess, I am constantly changing and trying to change/adapt my approach to find the way forward. I will prevail, I know it but gambling recovery is fucking hard and lonely whatever anybody says.

The gambling industry are mercenary opportunists who couldn't care less about my plight or the plight of other addicted persons who make up the bulk of their profits.

Thank you for caring, and for listening, please keep up the fight for gambling reform.

I apologize when I am not always responsive but sometimes I am alone in my thoughts and company.

Best Regards,

Tony aka GamblingHurts (a lot)

Time for Anger: Gov't backs FOBT Human Misery over sustainable economic growth.

This month (July 2012) the UK Commons culture committee has recommended the removal of the limit on the number of Fixed Odds Betting Machines (FOBT) per betting shop/mini casino.

In doing so the government has made a huge mistake to continue down the path of taxing human misery. 

These machines have been described by leading gambling addiction expert Professor Mark Griffiths as the 'crack cocaine of gambling' and continue to create/encourage gambling addicts to lose huge sums of money.

In fact the industry makes £3.3 million a day or £1.2 Billion a year in profits. This is money taken out of the local economy and transferred to a few companies backed by wealthy individuals residing in offshore tax havens.

The Government has its sums all wrong on the net gains of gambling to the treasury and the economy. Yes short term the gambling industry creates a few low paid minimum wage jobs and pays tax to the government coffers; but at what cost to the future of our high streets, and the economy and society in general.

We are already seeing huge changes to our high streets with the proliferation of betting shops, pawnbrokers, and money lenders changing the balance to the point where ordinary people no longer want to frequent them.

With the decline in foot fall many small businesses are going under, and in their place we get more betting shops/mini casinos, pawnbrokers, and money lenders thus leading to further rapid decline in the diversity of the high street.

A recent Local Government Survey shows the strength of feeling against more gambling in our high streets and concerns that it is damaging our local economy. It is time to get really angry and demand our government listen to the people on this issue.

If the £1.2 billion a year wasted in FOBTs alone was instead spent in local shops and businesses this would have a very dramatic and positive impact on our high streets, the local economy and recovery. Taxes would still be paid and because more of the money would be spent locally, it would be respent locally thereby contributing far more than gambling revenues.

ITS TIME FOR OUR GOVERNMENT TO REBUILD OUR ECONOMY ON SUSTAINABLE FOUNDATIONS AND NOT ILL THOUGHT OUT SHORT TERM STRATEGIES THAT RISK FUTURE GENERATIONS TO A LIFETIME OF GAMBLING ADDICTION AND MISERY.

Local Government Association survey – Betting Shops/Mini Casinos are hitting economic growth

NO to Corals mini casino in Western Road, Bexhill

Application for Coral's betting shop refused.

POWER TO THE PEOPLE AND LOCAL COUNCILS!!

Decision - REFUSED on 19/07/2012

Decision Reasons:

Western Road is at the heart of the defined main shopping area of Bexhill being the primary focus for retail development as set out in Policy BX5 of the Rother District Local Plan and within the town centre area currently the subject of the Council's Bexhill Town Centre Strategy relating to regeneration. In this context the loss of the shop unit to an A2 Use in a central position on Western Road is considered significant as the A1 uses hereabouts form a key role in meeting the day-to-day needs of the town. As such the loss of a retail unit in this central position would be contrary to Policy EM13 of the Rother District Local Plan and the provisions of paragraphs 23 and 70 of the National Planning Policy Framework.

Link toApplication for Coral's betting shop refused.


A fight is currently on in Bexhill, a small seaside town in the County of East Sussex to keep Corals from successfully opening a sixth bookmaker within Greater Bexhill.

Rother District Council has received various objections from local residents and business owners within the town who are opposed to the opening of yet another bookmaker in the town.

A number of residents have lodged objections on the basis of the long opening times and the problems caused by customers congregating outside betting shops smoking and littering the street with cigarette ends and drinks containers. Many of the objections are on the basis that Bexhill already has sufficient bookmakers to cater for the gambling demand, and there is no need for any further outlets.

A particular concern has been expressed that the proposed location of Corals in 45 Western Road, Bexhill is next door to Sweet Etcetera; a confectionary and gift shop often frequented by children. The Gambling Act 2005 itself makes reference to protecting children and vulnerable adults, situating a Coral bookmakers next door to the sweet shop does not seem to be upholding the spirit of the law.

The application and comments can be viewed here:

GamblingHurts has submitted the following objection to this proposal.

'I wish to object to the Planning Application put forward by Corals for change of use at 45 Western Road from retail use to a Betting Office.

The prevalence of gambling in our society has reached dangerous proportions and it is already harming the fabric of our communities.

The gambling industry talks about creating jobs, the reality is that it offers a few low paid or minimum wage jobs but talks nothing about the increasing numbers of problem gamblers marginalized from society who lose their jobs or careers.

The gambling industry is making huge profits from the FOBTs in the bookies; machines that have been described as being to the gambling addict what crack is to the drug addict. The gambling act limited the numbers of FOBTs allowed per shop but the gambling industry seeks to circumvent the law by flooding our high streets with multiple bookies. Bexhill on Sea already has 5 and does not need any more.

The wave of gambling that sweeps through our cities, towns and villages is actually killing local businesses. At a time when we need to grow our economy gambling sucks huge money out of the masses and into the pockets of a few people running or backing the gambling industry. This is money that could otherwise be spent in our local shops and creating a more prosperous local community.

It is time to stop kidding ourselves that we benefit from the gambling industry through jobs and taxes. The argument is not balanced and is largely dominated by promotion from the gambling industry speaking with one unified voice and with huge marketing spends.

Gambling costs jobs, it stifles our economy, and it blights our high streets with bookies and amusement arcades that bring out some of the worst problems in our society. E.g. gambling addiction, related crime and violence, breakdown of families, poor health, suicides etc.

As a recovering gambler myself, someone who has lost more than £1 million through gambling, has lost two homes, has put a huge strain on my family, including my children, has lost a career several times, and is currently unemployed as a result of gambling, has previously contemplated suicide, has committed crimes to fund gambling I ask you to say NO to this change of use application.'

Tony Franklin.
http://responsiblegambling1.blogspot.sk/
www.facebook.com/gamblinghurts
https://twitter.com/#!/GamblingHurts

Brnění is a non-governmental non-profit association in the Czech republic which was founded in summer 2010. It is campaigning for gambling reform and specifically to restrict the number and location of mini casinos (with electronic gambling machines) in the Czech Republic.

It has compiled a map of the locations of these mini casinos which shows a stagering 2922 mini casinos in a country with a population of 10.5million people as at 2010. (source World Bank)

These mini casinos account for 63,641 installed gambling machines in the Czech Republic or put another way, 1 gambling machine to every 165 people. 


This ratio of machines per person is higher even than the UK or Germany and  places Czech Republic in the top ten of gambling machines per country worldwide as at 2010 figures. (source TNS World Count of Gaming Machines 2010)

Sdružení Podané ruce, o.s.  offers addiction recovery programs in the Czech republic & set up a special project 'First Aid for pathological gamblers & their families'  in May 2011. The project is co-financed by the European Social Fund & the Czech state budget. Since the project start they have seen a 4-fold increase in referrals for gambling to the clinic for treatment. More at: http://www.gambling.podaneruce.cz/.

Link to gambling reform website Czech republic.

Gambling Reform Vision: Time for global consistency in our messages......

One topic I find myself reflecting on a lot recently is that of the consistency of our message in the gambling reform lobby. 

I am a relative newcomer to being an active and outspoken participant in gambling reform although I have watched and supported from the side-lines for many years.  

I have observed over the years how the gambling industry is consistent in communicating its message:-

·       

•   Entertainment industry
•   Job Creation 
•  Promoting Responsible Gambling 
• Tax contribution.
• The product: EGM - Electronic gaming machines

Why is this important? 

As an industry, all of the gambling operators will talk the same language about any of these topics. They understand each other, and they promote the same messages on these topics the world over.  

Whether it is in Las Vegas USA, London UK, Bratislava Slovakia, Melbourne Australia the gambling industry can roll out the marketing guys to promote a new casino by talking about:-

•  Creating jobs 
•   Paying taxes 
•   Entertainment industry being fun!! 
•  They take problem gambling seriously!!

This communication consistency allows them to be extremely effective in lobbying politicians and business groups. 

It gives them a huge advantage over the gambling reform lobby which has not yet developed a clear gambling reform vision with a consistent global message.  

Even the language around Electronic gaming machines is not clear and often not understood across different countries and regions.

• Pokies? Poker? FOBTs? VLTs? Slots?, Fruit Machines? Etc

It is a great achievement for the gambling reform lobby that we are now generating so much interest around the world with new action groups springing up almost every day.

Now is the time to create a global gambling reform vision and to rally behind clear consistent messages. By doing so:

• We will raise awareness of gambling addiction. 
• It will be easier to have our message heard and to gain the support of politicians and interest groups alike. 
• We can more easily target the gambling industry. 
• It will also allow research to be targeted to our core message.
• We can create a global NGO with a global funding program.

When the gambling industry rolls out its marketing guys to promote further expansion of a dangerous industry we must be able to respond with a clear and consistent message.

Something for discussion at international problem gambling conferences?

Gambling Addiction: The Negative Spiral downwards: Suicide is something that does enter your mind at the lowest ebb....

The actor in this film could be me. My gambling was very much linked to low self esteem, the gambling was the negative reinforcement of how shit, and worthless I believed I was. You become frustrated, angry, the guilt, the shame, you lose everything, family, friends, health, assets, your home, your future. And then desperation, depression and living the lonely existence. 

Electronic gambling machines are highly addictive and dangerous machines that appeal to the subliminal mind. Marketing campaigns for playing these machines always glamorize the experience and promote the idea of winning big as something that can happen to you. The reality is far more likely that regularly playing pokies, slots, fruit machines, VLTs, FOBTs, one arm bandits, internet gambling etc you will lose your money, your happiness and your health. These machines are designed to take all of your money off you.

Suicide is something that does enter your mind at the lowest ebb, and gambling addiction was the self fulfilling prophesy that took me there.

Now that my last gamble is over 18 months behind me (as at May 2013), I am still suffering with depression and oscillating moods, a consequence of over 25 years of my mood being directly corelated to whether I won/lost gambling on any given day. Gambling for long periods can seriously damage your mental health.

I am still trying to find the energy to write more about my feelings and my journey from an 11 year old child that first played slots to a 41 year old that has stopped gambling but is struggling to get his life back on track. 

I will start to write more about how I came back from the abyss but essentially the change came from within. My battle to stop took over 20 years from knowing that I had a gambling addiction. 

Every persons journey into gambling addiction is personal and every persons recovery is different. This film won't be for everyone but I relate to it.

 Gambling Addiction - Inside Story

Lewis Rogers Public Affairs Manager at William Hill and unsubstantiated claims. You decide?

See my evidence on this blog in response to Lewis Rogers Public Affairs Manager at William Hill comment that I am making unsubstantiated claims. You decide?

Letter to William Hill chief executive #1

Letter to William Hill chief executive #2

William Hill profited very nicely from my gambling addiction!

My William Hill activity between March and April 2003. More than £20,000 deposited in just over a month.

William Hill profited very nicely from my gambling addiction although they claim not to want problem gamblers!

They knew about my gambling addiction in March 2003 but continued to take money until all my MULTIPLE credit cards were drained. (See additional posts and my letters to the William Hill CEO.)

When I spoke with them about my problem they were at best indifferent and at times they were very unsympathetic and rude.

In short the gambling industry continues to cash in on FOBT & internet gambling in particular in same way as the drug dealer peddles to crack addict.