Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils
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Issue - meetings

Meeting: 08/12/2017 - Babergh Licensing and Regulatory Committee (Item 5)

5 BLR/17/2 GAMBLING ACT 2005 - FIXED ODDS BETTING TERMINALS (FOBTS) - GOVERNMENT CONSULTATION ON GAMING MACHINES AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY MEASURES pdf icon PDF 192 KB

Report by the Licensing Officer attached.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

5.1     The Licensing Officer presented paper BLR/17/2 advising Members of the current consultation exercise being undertaken by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (“DCMS”) on proposed changes to Gaming Machines and Social Responsibility Measures, which includes the issues surrounding Fixed Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs), classified as category B2 gaming machines under the Gambling Act 2005 in betting shops. Members were asked to consider whether they wished to make comment on the Government consultation paper.

 

5.2     During the course of the discussion, Members agreed that the maximum stake on FOBTs should be reduced from £100 to £2. There was concern about the increase in and regulation of gambling advertising on television, online and at public events.

 

5.3     It was agreed that a submission be prepared by the Licensing Officer in consultation with the Chair and Vice-Chair to include the following responses to the questions in the consultation document:

 

Q1 – Option 4

Q2-Q7 – Yes

Q8 – Yes

Q9 – Yes

Q10 – Yes

Q11-Q13 – Yes

Q14 – Yes

Q15 – Yes

Q16 – No

 

RESOLVED

 

1.               That the content of paper BLR/17/2 and the consultation document attached as Appendix A be noted.

 

2.               That a response to the Government consultation be prepared by officers in consultation with the Committee Chair and Vice-Chair.

 

 

 


Meeting: 01/12/2017 - Mid Suffolk Licensing and Regulatory Committee (Item 5)

5 MLR/17/3 Gambling Act 2005 - Fixed Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTS) - Government Consultation on Gaming Machines and Social Responsibility Measures pdf icon PDF 192 KB

Report by the Licensing Officer attached.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Licensing Officer presented paper MLR/17/3 advising Members of the current consultation exercise being undertaken by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (“DCMS”) on proposed changes to Gaming Machines and Social Responsibility Measures, which includes the issues surrounding Fixed Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs), classified as category B2 gaming machines under the Gambling Act 2005 in betting shops. Members were asked to consider whether they wished to make comment on the Government consultation paper.

 

During the course of the discussion, Members generally agreed that the maximum stake on FOBTs should be reduced from £100 to £2 however there was concern that this may move the problem elsewhere and result in increased online gambling. Members were of the opinion that online gamblers based in the UK should be registered in the UK. There was concern about the increase in and regulation of gambling advertising on television and at public events. There was also a suggestion that the bright lights and music associated with FOBTs be reduced to make them less attractive.

 

It was agreed that a submission be prepared by the Licensing Officer in consultation with the Chair and Vice-Chair and agreed with the rest of the Committee, to include the following responses to the questions in the consultation document and Member comments above:

 

Q1 – Option 4

Q2-Q7 – Yes

Q8 – No

Q9 – Yes

Q10 – Yes

Q11-Q13 – Yes

Q14 – Yes

Q15 – Yes

Q16 – Yes

 

RESOLVED

 

1.               That the content of paper MLR/17/3 and the consultation document attached as Appendix A be noted.

 

2.               That a response to the Government consultation be prepared by officers in consultation with the Committee Chair and Vice-Chair and returned to Committee members for comment prior to submission, to include the points raised by Members.