There has been a lot of discussions recently in the UK in regards to the huge number of Fixed Odds Betting Terminals or FOBT’s as they are known.
A lot of people have been demanding that the way in which these machines work and operate should be changed as it has been alleged they are making some gamblers spend more than they can comfortably afford to gamble when sat playing them.
In fact the UK Government has just put the proposed changes to a vote in the House of Commons!
All MP’s were given a vote in the house of Commons in the UK and the vote was quite a simple one, which was whether a proposed set of changes should be put in effect in regards to the stake levels at which players can play these machines for along with a whole set of different playing structures, however the MP’s decided by way of this vote that no changes would be made to the way these machines work and operate.
Fixed Odds Betting Terminals allow gamblers visiting a bookmakers shop in the UK to play a range of different fixed odds games which include slot machines, Blackjack and Roulette games, however it is the Roulette games which have divided opinions as it is possible to gamble up to 100.00 every 20 seconds on these machines and it has been alleged that by allowing punters to gamble that much money so quickly a new set of problems gamblers is being born!
Whilst it is of course true to say that some people are going to experience gambling problems when playing these Fixed Odds Betting Terminals, the bookmakers themselves are arguing that they have not seen any increases in the numbers of players becoming addicted to these machines which are proving to be a real money spinner for them and as such some massive profits are being made on these machines every week.
In fact some of the betting companies are opening up new betting shops solely with the aim of allowing them to install the maximum number of four of these machines in towns and cities where they already operate a large number of betting shops already.
Figures realised have shown that the most profitable Fixed Odds Betting Terminals are those which are located in the poorest parts of the UK and many observers have been saying that this is proof that those least able to afford to gamble are funding their gaming on these machines with their benefit money, however no one has been able to provide any facts and figures that support these claims.
It was hoped by those opposed to Fixed Odds Betting Terminals that the vote in the House of Commons would have gone their way for they have proposed that the maximum amount players could wager on these machines was to be changed to 2.00 per game instead of the current 100.00 per game.
However with the vote going against those opposed to Fixed Odds Betting Terminals there are not going to be any changes in the near future in regards to the stake levels at which these gaming machines can be played for.
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