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Gambling Act 2005 (Horserace Totalisator Board) Order 2007

I understand that too, but it should be pointed out that the fixed-odds betting terminals in betting shops are there not because the Government agreed that they were a legitimate form of additional provision in betting shops but because the Association of British Bookmakers went to court more than three and a half years ago and said, ““These are not gaming machines””, and the Government could not be sure of beating the association in court. A deal was done whereby the number of machines in each betting shop was restricted to four, and the speed of play and the stakes and prizes were supposedly limited. I heard what the noble Lord, Lord James, said, and I agree that there is certainly room for debate about whether the limits on stakes and prizes are effective, but it should be recognised when we debate this next week that the Gambling Commission cannot place legal restrictions on these machines without fear of action until 1 December, when the Gambling Act 2005 comes into force. I have no doubt that the commission will do so. I ought to have declared an interest as a member of the Gambling Commission before I started this intervention.