Maria Eagle – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Maria Eagle on 2016-03-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether the Triennial Review of gambling machine stakes and prize limits plans to consider the (a) effect on mental health and (b) other social and non-economic effects of fixed-odds betting terminals.

David Evennett

In April 2015 the previous Government introduced regulations which require authorisation of stakes over £50 on Fixed Odds Betting Terminals through a “verified account” or staff interaction. The Government published its evaluation of the £50 regulations on 21 January. The evaluation paper can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/evaluation-of-gaming-machine-circumstances-of-useamendment-regulations-2015

We will now consider the findings of the evaluation before deciding if there is a need for further action.