DCMS should stand up to the Treasury and publicly assure us the FOBTs review has not been shelved – Tom Watson

Tom
Watson MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and
Sport, commenting
on reports that the Chancellor has scrapped the Fixed-odds betting terminals
(FOBTs) review, said: 

“This
is an astonishing intervention by Philip Hammond.

“If the
Treasury has insisted the review is shelved then the Chancellor has ridden
roughshod over his Cabinet colleagues and overwhelming public evidence about
the danger these highly addictive machines pose.

“British
gamblers lost £1.8 billion on fixed-odds betting terminals last year alone,
money that could make a better contribution to the economy if spent
elsewhere. 

“If
Philip Hammond was so concerned about his bottom line, maybe he shouldn’t have
approved a £1 billion sweetheart deal with the DUP. 

“The
Department for Culture, Media and Sport should stand up to the Treasury and
publicly assure us the review has not been shelved."