Our place to talk – an independent website for supporters of the Liberal Democrat party in the UK.

The most-read independent website by and for Lib Dem supporters. Not paid for by trade unions or millionaires.

Advert

Author Archives: Derek Webb

Opinion: Urgent action is needed on Fixed Odds Betting Terminals

By Derek Webb | Sat 14th September 2013 - 2:02 pm

The Lib Dem message at conference this year is: “Stronger Economy, Fairer Society”. We wholly endorse this message, and our Campaign for Fairer Gambling is absolutely focused on this direction.

There must be sensible enforcement of sensible gambling regulation. The most addictive form of gambling is roulette machines in betting shops – Fixed Odds Betting Terminals, also known as FOBTs.

Because these machines are a very labour unintensive form of consumer spending, they result in a net loss of jobs in local communities and this has a negative impact on tax revenue generation.

In addition to the economic cost of FOBTs, there is the added social cost of FOBT addiction and each addict affects up to twelve others.

FOBTs expose inexperienced, young gamblers to a game that they will lose at several times faster than the real, casino variant.

Continue reading »

Posted in Op-eds | Tagged gambling | 6 Comments

Most Read

Op-eds

Why Holborn and St Pancras deserves our all (Rosemary Runswick)
Observations of an Expat: Bonds and the World (Tom Arms)
Burnham, Andy: Could do better (Simon Banks)
Could Andy Burnham rival William Beveridge in impact? (Katharine Pindar)
World Suicide Prevention Day, 10th September (Ron Aitken)

Advert

Recent Comments

Michael BG
Paul Baker, The £16,000 limit on total savings for those of working age on benefits hasn’t been changed since 2013. If someone has more savings than this ...
Rose Runswick
I appreciate the concerns here that we are not in the running for this Seat currently, but this has not always been the case, at one stage we were the main chal...
Tim Rogers
I agree. We are not in the running for this seat. However we must hope that Green party do not win. Next year's local elections are going to be truly massive an...
Mohammed Amin
I would not put any national resources into this by election. It looks extremely unpromising, as it will clearly be a two horse race between Labour and Greens. ...
Katharine Pindar
What can be seen as 'progressive' new taxation, for Andy Burnham and his Chancellor to try in order to raise further much-needed funds? Not surely by any means ...