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