Treasury has been criticised for a delay in bringing in a £2 cap on stakes on fixed odd betting machines.

The electronic machines, often sited in betting shops in disadvantaged areas, were described in Tynwald as having become a ’major scourge in the UK’.

Lawrie Hooper (Ramsey) pointed out the UK announced the £2 cap on stakes in May 2018 and it had come in April 2019 - and asked why Treasury had taken a further year to act on something identified as a clear risk.

’Why are we so far behind, why are we so slow in bringing this in?’ he asked.

Tynwald heard that all licensed operators in the island had already brought in the £2 cap on stakes.

Tim Baker (Ayre and Michael) said: ’This issue has been a major scourge in the UK, particularly in disadvantaged working-class communities where high streets have been taken over by betting shops in many areas.

’This has been the source of great social concern. I don’t think we’ve had the same issues in the Isle of Man but I’m really glad this has, admittedly belatedly, been dealt with.’

Dr Alex Allinson (Ramsey), who is a trustee of Motiv8 and GamCare, said the use of fixed-odds betting machines had been relatively limited in the island, and although not a major issue, ’has been for certain members of our community’.

He said the machines are designed to take money off people.

’They are not entertainment, they are not amusement,’ he said, thanking Treasury for drawing a line under the issue before it became a major problem.

Treasury member Bill Shimmins said the machines had been associated with a heightened risk of disorder and problem gambling in the UK and it was hoped that the introduction of a maximum £2 stake ’will minimise the likelihood of similar patterns of adverse gambling behaviour arising in the island’.

He said all licensed operators in the island have now converted to fixed-odds betting terminals that include a stake cap of £2 and so the measure has ’already been applied’.

Mr Shimmins said a review was initiated in February last year but it found only limited evidence of the fixed odds betting machines causing as many problems here as in the UK.

But following further discussions between Treasury, the Gambling Supervision Commission and the gaming sector, it was agreed to proceed with the £2 cap.

’Treasury did take this matter very seriously,’ he insisted.

’Gambling does have issues and the sector is proactively joining together to create the first globally-facing, evidence-based safer gambling code of conduct.’