Bookmakers Pull Brand-new Games After Gambling Commission Warning
Bookmakers pull new video games after Gambling Commission cautioning
2 April 2019
Two leading UK bookmakers have actually pulled new high stakes wagering video games after a warning from the Gambling Commission.
Paddy Power and Betfred faced criticism their roulette-style games weakened brand-new guidelines on fixed-odds wagering.
The optimum stake on fixed-odds betting terminals was today cut from ₤ 100 to ₤ 2, and the regulator warned versus any attempts to circumvent the guidelines.
Betfred stated it wanted more talks with the commission, while Paddy Power stated its video game was just a limited trial.
The ₤ 2 cap on fixed-odds wagering terminals (FOBTs) was advised by the Gambling Commission in March in 2015 and is backed by the government as part of efforts to decrease gambling-related damage.
The Betfred video game involved 2 cyclists on a screen in stores racing on a velodrome track with numbers on it. When the bicyclist at the rear catches the one in front, the number they are on is the winning number.
The numbers are 1 to 36, mirroring those on a live roulette wheel, and other bets can be placed on odd and even numbers, colours, rows and columns. Customers could wager as much as ₤ 500.
Paddy Power's game, with a maximum stake of ₤ 100 - the level before this week's FOBT rule-change - also included betting on numbers in between 1 and 36.
A Paddy Power spokesperson stated: "This game was introduced as part of a short trial in a selection of stores. The trial was ceased within 24 hours of start and this product will not be released throughout our estate."
Act responsibly
Ahead of the commission's intervention, both firms drew fire from critics. Shadow culture minister Tom Watson explained them as "FOBTs through the back door".
Bookmakers pull new video games after Gambling Commission cautioning
2 April 2019
Two leading UK bookmakers have actually pulled new high stakes wagering video games after a warning from the Gambling Commission.
Paddy Power and Betfred faced criticism their roulette-style games weakened brand-new guidelines on fixed-odds wagering.
The optimum stake on fixed-odds betting terminals was today cut from ₤ 100 to ₤ 2, and the regulator warned versus any attempts to circumvent the guidelines.
Betfred stated it wanted more talks with the commission, while Paddy Power stated its video game was just a limited trial.
The ₤ 2 cap on fixed-odds wagering terminals (FOBTs) was advised by the Gambling Commission in March in 2015 and is backed by the government as part of efforts to decrease gambling-related damage.
The Betfred video game involved 2 cyclists on a screen in stores racing on a velodrome track with numbers on it. When the bicyclist at the rear catches the one in front, the number they are on is the winning number.
The numbers are 1 to 36, mirroring those on a live roulette wheel, and other bets can be placed on odd and even numbers, colours, rows and columns. Customers could wager as much as ₤ 500.
Paddy Power's game, with a maximum stake of ₤ 100 - the level before this week's FOBT rule-change - also included betting on numbers in between 1 and 36.
A Paddy Power spokesperson stated: "This game was introduced as part of a short trial in a selection of stores. The trial was ceased within 24 hours of start and this product will not be released throughout our estate."
Act responsibly
Ahead of the commission's intervention, both firms drew fire from critics. Shadow culture minister Tom Watson explained them as "FOBTs through the back door".