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Bookmakers pull new games after Gambling Commission alerting
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2 April 2019
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Two leading UK bookmakers have pulled new high stakes betting video games after a caution from the Gambling Commission.

Paddy Power and Betfred dealt with criticism their roulette-style video games undermined new rules on fixed-odds betting.

The optimum stake on fixed-odds betting terminals was today cut from ₤ 100 to ₤ 2, and the regulator alerted versus any efforts to prevent the rules.

Betfred stated it wanted more talks with the commission, while Paddy Power said its game was only a limited trial.
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The ₤ 2 cap on fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) was advised by the Gambling Commission in March last year and is backed by the government as part of efforts to minimize gambling-related damage.

The Betfred game involved two cyclists on a screen in shops racing on a velodrome track with numbers on it. When the bicyclist at the rear catches the one in front, the number they are on is the winning number.
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The numbers are 1 to 36, matching those on a live roulette wheel, and other bets can be put on odd or even numbers, colours, rows and columns. Customers could wager as much as ₤ 500.

Paddy Power's game, with an optimum stake of ₤ 100 - the level before this week's FOBT rule-change - also involved banking on numbers in between 1 and 36.

A Paddy Power spokesman stated: "this promotion code game was introduced as part of a short trial in a choice of shops. the yohaig code trial was ceased within 24 hr of beginning and this product will not be introduced across our estate."

Act responsibly

Ahead of the commission's intervention, both companies drew fire from critics. Shadow culture minister Tom Watson described them as "FOBTs through the back entrance".

Tracey Crouch MP, who resigned as sports minister over the delay in cutting FOBT stakes, said any attempt prevent this promotion code week's changes to the maximum stakes "would be ethically careless".

In a statement on Tuesday, Richard Watson, executive director for at the commission, stated: "We have actually been definitely clear with operators about our expectations to act properly following the stake cut application this week.
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"We have informed operators to take down brand-new products which undermine the modifications, and we will examine any other items that are not within the spirit and intention of the new guidelines."He said that a 3rd bookmaker that was poised to introduce a comparable product to those at Paddy Power and Betfred had been cautioned against doing so.

A Betfred spokesman stated: "We got rid of the virtual biking video game and all associated marketing at 10.30 am this promotion code morning after conversations with the Gambling Commission."

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