What Are Fixed Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs)?

Fixed odds betting terminals have been increasingly featured in the media in recent years, mostly in stories where people are trying to ban them. Seen in some quarters as a magnet for the minority of gamblers, the UK government has recently reduced the maximum stake, and introduced a raft of new controlling measures on these machines. But what exactly are fixed odds betting terminals, and are they really the devil, or just another gambling product best enjoyed responsibly?

What is a FOBT?

Often abbreviated to FOBT, fixed odds betting terminals are exactly as the name implies – betting terminals, or machines, where players compete against games with fixed odds to win money. There is nothing inherently evil about the construct – it’s just like any other form of gambling, packaged up in video game form and presented via a gaming machine, like online casino gambling, live dealer casinos, or any other type of modern gambling product.

Fixed odds betting terminals are located within betting shops, and are hugely popular with players. They offer the chance to compete for set wins against an RTP percentage, similar to UK online slots, where players know the percentages ahead of time. These tend to range from anywhere between 90-94% in most cases, though some FOBT roulette games can push as high as 98%. You can view the highest RTP slots here.

So Are FOBTs Rigged Against Me?

Like any gambling product, there is an in-built house edge, which ensures the operator makes a profit from the game. However, with relatively high long-term RTPs, these games are no worse value than many standard casino classics.

Players could be forgiven for thinking FOBTs are against them, particularly if they hit a lengthy losing streak or the machine just suddenly runs cold. But in reality, this isn’t the case. While the RTP is fixed, hence ‘fixed odds’, there’s as much chance that you could be a significant winner as anyone else, and machines are not specifically stacked against you. The machine isn’t even making a conscious decision about whether to pay or not – it’s all handled by random number generators behind the scenes, which are programmed to deliver results on the fixed odds basis.

So while yes, there is an in-built advantage to the operator known as the house edge, it’s not true to say FOBTs are rigged against you or any individual player.

What Games Can I Play?

FOBTs offer a range of games, with slots, roulette and bingo amongst the most common game types available, with favorites including Rainbow Riches, Reel King and 20p Roulette. You’ll also often see examples of virtual racing, like virtual horse racing or virtual greyhound racing, on which you bet against fixed-odds outcomes in virtual races. Each game has the same basic premise – you put money into the machine representative of your bet stake, and receive payouts when you start winning.

These games were first introduced to betting shops in the UK in 2001, and have grown to become one of the most popular attractions in high street outlets. The games themselves are engaging, and bridge the gap between virtual gambling and the high street – a winning combination for betting shop owners.

FOBTs and Problem Gambling

Critics have said that high stakes and the engaging nature of video games makes FOBTs a recipe for problem gambling. The gambling industry by and large rejects this narrative, and has gone to significant lengths to introduce protections for vulnerable gamblers. These include bringing forward spending and time limits on games, self-exclusion, plus a number of other measures developed in collaboration with regulators and the government.

Unfortunately, the Gambling Commission’s recommendation of a £100 betting limit was dismissed by the UK government, who announced the max bet would be reduced to just £2, commencing in 2019. This is expected to result in significant betting shop closures and potentially thousands of job losses from the sector, not to mention the inconvenience for regular gamblers.

The Future for FOBTs

With the change in regulations in the UK at least, FOBTs days could be numbered – certainly, there will be fewer of these machines in the years to come, and fewer locations at which you can play them. That will be disappointing for some players, but there’s always the flexibility to play similar games online or on mobile, with leading casinos like us offering their own selection of slots, online roulette games, virtual racing and other betting products.

Even with the government’s regulatory squeeze, much criticised by regulators and industry alike, FOBTs and their games will continue to survive, and will continue to provide players with a chance of winning money from their betting session.