Rt Hon Sir David Evennett, MP for Bexleyheath and Crayford, has supported amendments to the Finance Bill to bring forward the reduction of the maximum stake for fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs).

The current maximum stake is £100, and the Government currently plan to reduce this to £2 in October 2019. However, the amendment backed by Sir David would see this being brought forward to April 2019.

The changes follow a 12 week public consultation in which the respondents overwhelmingly supported a significant reduction in FOBT stakes. Sir David has long campaigned for the reduction, and worked on the issue during his time as the Acting Minister for Sport, Tourism and Heritage. During the recent debate on the Budget, he highlighted his disappointment that the reduction in the maximum stake wasn’t due to come into force sooner.

Sir David commented: “We have a duty to protect the most vulnerable who are exposed to significant losses, which can cause harm to both the individual and their families. I therefore fully support these amendments and believe leaving the maximum stake at £100 until next October is unacceptable.”