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Bookmakers Pull Brand-new Games After Gambling Commission Warning

Bookmakers pull new games after Gambling Commission alerting

2 April 2019

Two leading UK bookies have pulled brand-new high stakes betting games after a warning from the .

Paddy Power and Betfred dealt with criticism their roulette-style video games weakened new guidelines on fixed-odds betting.

The maximum stake on fixed-odds betting terminals was this week cut from ₤ 100 to ₤ 2, and the regulator alerted against any efforts to circumvent the rules.

Betfred said it wanted more talks with the commission, while Paddy Power stated its video game was just a restricted trial.

The ₤ 2 cap on fixed-odds wagering terminals (FOBTs) was suggested by the Gambling Commission in March last year and is backed by the federal government as part of efforts to minimize gambling-related damage.

The Betfred video game included 2 cyclists on a screen in stores racing on a velodrome track with numbers on it. When the cyclist 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 roulette wheel, and other bets can be placed on odd or even numbers, colours, rows and columns. Customers might wager up to ₤ 500.

Paddy Power’s game, with a maximum stake of ₤ 100 – the level before this week’s FOBT rule-change – also involved betting on numbers in between 1 and 36.

A Paddy Power spokesperson stated: “This video game was introduced as part of a brief trial in a selection of shops. The trial was stopped within 24 hr of beginning and this item will not be launched across our estate.”

Act responsibly

Ahead of the commission’s intervention, both companies drew fire from critics. Shadow culture minister Tom Watson described them as “FOBTs through the back entrance”.

Tracey Crouch MP, who resigned as sports minister over the hold-up in cutting FOBT stakes, said any effort circumvent this week’s modifications to the optimal stakes “would be ethically reckless”.

In a statement on Tuesday, Richard Watson, executive director for enforcement at the commission, stated: “We have been definitely clear with operators about our expectations to act properly following the stake cut execution this week.

“We have actually told operators to remove new items which undermine the changes, and we will investigate any other items that are not within the spirit and intent of the yohaig code new guidelines.”He stated that a 3rd bookie that was poised to introduce a comparable product to those at Paddy Power and Betfred had actually been alerted against doing so.

A Betfred spokesman said: “We got rid of the virtual cycling video game and all associated marketing at 10.30 am today after conversations with the Gambling Commission.”

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