Profits from AWP machines drop
Pub operators are suffering a massive decline in the income from AWP machines as customers increasingly turn to betting shops.
Fixed odd betting terminals have become a firm favourite with customers who prefer the excitement of bigger stakes and prizes than the machines on offer in pubs.
Pubs that are near bookmakers have suffered particularly badly and under the new Gambling Bill the situation will not be changing.
In the bill the government has proposed a ban on fruit machines in unlicensed premises like take-aways and looked at restricting unlimited money slot machines. Local authorities are also to be given powers to block new casinos, but pubs will still be restricted to low jackpot AWP machines.
Danny Scott, licensee at Rick's Bar in Greenwich, London, is only 25 yards from a betting shop and is fully aware of the impact the betting terminals are having on his trade.
"My takings on the AWPs have dropped by 50 per cent in recent months," he said. "I was in the bookies for a bet this week and a customer on one of these machines had built up credit of £2800. We can't compete with that."
John Brind, licensee at the New Inn, Buckby Wharf, Northants, has had to get rid of the machines because the money he was earning couldn't justify the hassle of running them.
Meanwhile Steve Allison, owner of The Faversham in Leeds, has also seen takings drop.
"I've only been running this pub for six months but I've noticed the fall in takings even over that time," said Mr Allison. "We're down 30 per cent on what we'd be expecting, we've even moved them to try and help but it hasn't made a difference."
Leisure Link is one of the companies that provide AWPs to pubs and betting terminals to bookmakers.
David Purvis, sales and marketing manager said: "It must have affected pub retail because it's a new product and value for money. Licensees have been criticizing it for some time and it has stolen a bit of a march on what pubs offer, they want to know why they can't have a fixed odds betting terminal but it's because it's still regarded as a betting machine."
