Agenda item

Fixed Odds Betting Terminals

9.1

It was formally moved by Councillor Ben Miskell, and formally seconded by Councillor Leigh Bramall, that this Council:-

(a)          reiterates support for previous resolutions calling on the government to give local authorities the powers they need to respond to concerns from their local communities and stop the proliferation of Fixed Odds Betting Terminal (FOBT) machines and betting shops;

(b)       notes that each betting outlet can provide four FOBT machines which offer casino style content including games such as roulette at up to £100 a spin, which can be wagered every 20 seconds, and believes:-

(i)         it is in response to the cap that bookmakers have opened multiple premises in clusters to facilitate more machines as a fixed margin product guarantees bookmakers a return; and

(ii)        as a result, FOBTs have become a significant part of their business operations which has led to betting shops proliferating on high streets and licenses being moved from tertiary locations to clusters;

(c)       further notes there are now more than 33,400 FOBTs offering casino content on high streets, illustrating this is a nation-wide issue, and that there are also more than twice as many betting shops in the poorest 55 local authority areas compared with the most affluent 115, which are equivalent by population;

(d)       notes the campaign led by the London Borough of Newham, with support from a number of local authorities, to support the Sustainable Communities Act (SCA) submission to reduce the stakes on category B2 Fixed Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs) in on-street betting outlets from £100 to £2 per spin;

(e)       wholeheartedly supports this campaign, which will help to tackle the proliferation of betting shops throughout Sheffield, an issue which the Council is hamstrung to tackle;

(f)        notes that the Government have announced a full review of high stake gaming machines, with consultation closing on 4th December; and

(g)       directs that a copy of this motion is sent to the Government and the London Borough of Newham to convey Sheffield’s full support for the campaign, in addition to the Council providing a full response to the Government consultation.

9.2

Whereupon, it was formally moved by Councillor Andrew Sangar, and formally seconded by Councillor Ian Auckland, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by the relettering of paragraphs (d) to (g) as new paragraphs (f) to (i) and the addition of new paragraphs (d) and (e) as follows:-

(d)       believes this is a direct consequence of the Gambling Act 2005, introduced by the last Labour Government, which removed the need for operators to prove unmet demand;

(e)       notes the comments of Tom Watson MP, Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, who stated the Labour Party ‘dropped the ball’ over the 2005 Gambling Act;

9.3

On being put to the vote, the amendment was negatived.

9.4

The original Motion was then put to the vote and carried as follows:-

RESOLVED: That this Council:-

(a)       reiterates support for previous resolutions calling on the government to give local authorities the powers they need to respond to concerns from their local communities and stop the proliferation of Fixed Odds Betting Terminal (FOBT) machines and betting shops;

(b)       notes that each betting outlet can provide four FOBT machines which offer casino style content including games such as roulette at up to £100 a spin, which can be wagered every 20 seconds, and believes:-

(i)         it is in response to the cap that bookmakers have opened multiple premises in clusters to facilitate more machines as a fixed margin product guarantees bookmakers a return; and

(ii)        as a result, FOBTs have become a significant part of their business operations which has led to betting shops proliferating on high streets and licenses being moved from tertiary locations to clusters;

(c)        further notes there are now more than 33,400 FOBTs offering casino content on high streets, illustrating this is a nation-wide issue, and that there are also more than twice as many betting shops in the poorest 55 local authority areas compared with the most affluent 115, which are equivalent by population;

(d)       notes the campaign led by the London Borough of Newham, with support from a number of local authorities, to support the Sustainable Communities Act (SCA) submission to reduce the stakes on category B2 Fixed Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs) in on-street betting outlets from £100 to £2 per spin;

(e)       wholeheartedly supports this campaign, which will help to tackle the proliferation of betting shops throughout Sheffield, an issue which the Council is hamstrung to tackle;

(f)        notes that the Government have announced a full review of high stake gaming machines, with consultation closing on 4th December; and

(g)       directs that a copy of this motion is sent to the Government and the London Borough of Newham to convey Sheffield’s full support for the campaign, in addition to the Council providing a full response to the Government consultation.