Camden to respond to gaming machines consultation

Councillor Richard Olszewski, Cabinet Member for Finance and Transformation said:

“The maximum stakes and prizes on fixed-odds betting machines should be reduced drastically. The case for a £2 maximum stake is overwhelming.

“We are therefore pleased the Government is consulting on plans to reduce the maximum stakes and prizes for fixed-odds betting terminals and the corresponding measures to minimise the risk of harm from gambling.

“Camden has consistently striven to ensure that our gambling policy allows responsible premises to continue to operate, whilst at the same time having the tools available to address problems if they do occur, and protecting vulnerable people from being harmed or exploited.

“The Council has recently identified the areas in the borough where our communities are most at risk of being vulnerable to gambling related harm, and have used this information to make changes to our Gambling Policy to minimise that risk. The Licensing Committee will consider the changes on 5 December 2017 and the full Council will be asked to approve the Policy early in January 2018.

“In Camden we strive to reduce gambling related harm and we will be responding to the consultation supporting a significant reduction in the maximum stake and additional social responsibility measures for the industry as a whole.”