The State of The UK's High Street Bookmakers FOBT Slots.

[Stuart Chapman]

Some might think I'm exaggerating here but I can assure you that it's a fair reflection of all which I've experienced on bookies FOBT over the last 8 or so years:

Yesterday I put well over £400 in a bookies (WH) FOBT Slot (brand new game) and recieved Precisely ZERO Gameplay or Value For Money for the cash inserted At All, this is about the 1,000th time that this exact same experience has happened to me for similar or larger amounts of money lost over the best part of the last decade or so and it is Patently Obvious to me now that I am not recieving any fairness or fair chance of winning anything at all . . . So, the question undoubtedly is 'What On Earth Is Wrong With Bookmakers FOBT Slot Offerings!!?'.

Despicable would literally be an understatement to describe how appalling the nature of the constant losing spins 'gameplay' I have received for my money on these 'slot machines' has actually been in reality.

At this point in 2025 it actually feels more so than ever like these high street shops are basically just stealing my money now without even so much as a cursory nod towards fairness at all and judging from all I've seen during my own 'gameplay' and that of other players losing their money right next to me, I'm certain that I'm not alone in how angry I feel.

The bottom line is that the FOBT Slots gambling currently 'On Offer' to UK Gamblers is Appallingly Unfair and I have proven this beyond all doubt through my very own shockingly bad experiences and the huge financial losses that these sessions have inflicted upon me cumulatively.

Who should I make representation to about these losses and the unfairness reflected in the dreadful rtp% performance throughout my own woeful experiences playing(?) the FOBT units in these high street chains / shops because The UKGC has openly informed me in writing that they no longer enforce or check rtp% performance of any gambling products (neither the hardware nor software) anywhere within the UK because it would be 'Impractical To Do So!', and also where do I complain about the lack of real world lawful performance of FOBT units at these high street establishments, If indeed that is (as I strongly suspect) what is actually occurring on a daily basis within these establishments in reality?

 

[YouTubeSlots]

I wouldn't put £4 in those machines. Never mind $£400.

I always tell people your better playing online casinos then those devil machines

 

[Webzcas]

They are not known as the 'Crack Cocaine of the High Street' for no reason. I remember when they first came out and appearing in bookies up and down the country. I was working for Ladbrokes International in Gibraltar - Basically Sportsbook the then newly launched online casino and poker sites and telephone betting, until that went back to the UK in 2001 ).

The figures that FOBT's generated in some shops became the majority of said shops turnover. Hence the 4 FOBT per shop rule was got around by opening up another branch a few hundred yards down the same street.

Obviously the bet limits now put in place have helped somewhat, but they are still IMO a bad thing. Definitely steer well clear.

 

[Siohmy]

They are not known as the 'Crack Cocaine of the High Street' for no reason. I remember when they first came out and appearing in bookies up and down the country. I was working for Ladbrokes International in Gibraltar - Basically Sportsbook the then newly launched online casino and poker sites and telephone betting, until that went back to the UK in 2001 ).

The figures that FOBT's generated in some shops became the majority of said shops turnover. Hence the 4 FOBT per shop rule was got around by opening up another branch a few hundred yards down the same street.

Obviously the bet limits now put in place have helped somewhat, but they are still IMO a bad thing. Definitely steer well clear.

Well it would help if there were not a prolifiartion of arcades wtih countless £500 slots all over the place with no real restriction on access.

 

[Stuart Chapman]

Sadly I think I have to concede that I have been rather foolish in the extreme to persist in locking horns with these Bookmakers chains and their slot machines.

In retrospect it is now abundantly clear that I was never going to actually conquer their coding or find any edge through repeated gameplay / observation no matter how much time or money I could supply or invest into the process.

All that my own personal experimentation has proven is that those machines are set up to take profits regularly and efficiently against the backdrop of time, they are solely and purposefully designed to make certain of the bottom line profit and they do that as fast as the player allows.

Every. Single. Day.

 

[Webzcas]

Well it would help if there were not a prolifiartion of arcades wtih countless £500 slots all over the place with no real restriction on access.

Sadly a 'Merkur Arcade' popped up in our town's high street just after lockdown too.

 

[snorky510238]

Sadly I think I have to concede that I have been rather foolish in the extreme to persist in locking horns with these Bookmakers chains and their slot machines.

In retrospect it is now abundantly clear that I was never going to actually conquer their coding or find any edge through repeated gameplay / observation no matter how much time or money I could supply or invest into the process.

All that my own personal experimentation has proven is that those machines are set up to take profits regularly and efficiently against the backdrop of time, they are solely and purposefully designed to make certain of the bottom line profit and they do that as fast as the player allows.

Every. Single. Day.

I haven’t been in a betting shop for a long time but I very much doubt the rtp is above 80% and if it is, there’s no guarantee that’s what they’re actually paying. This Industry is a law unto itself and is regulated by nobody. Gambling in the UK absolutely stinks and always has.

 

[Reefer]

How to win on fobt

 

[dunover]

How to win on fobt

Still never paid anything out did they?

 

[Reefer]

Still never paid anything out did they?

Got to feel sorry for the guy playing the machine on the far right, he keeps going back and spinning while dude is mid rampage until he finally kills his machine

 

[mulven]

Back in my early matched betting days before I graduated to high risk casino offers, I used to do the in-person bookmaker offers as I lived in Dundee city centre so was very close to all the big names.

Being in those shops was some of the most depressing stuff ever. I'd get FOBT offers regularly and it was painful to see the same people in there next to me spinning away on roulette on separate visits.

Staff were generally okay but Betfred had a real jobsworth who didn't like me

I even once got an offer in the cashino, as it was linked to the online casino version. That was an even more depressing place. As others have mentioned the amount of those in the town has tripled by now I think

 

[dunover]

Got to feel sorry for the guy playing the machine on the far right, he keeps going back and spinning while dude is mid rampage until he finally kills his machine

Rampage man probably saved him quite a few quid.

 

[Reefer]

Rampage man probably saved him quite a few quid.

Some may call that a win

 

[michalmarci98]

I wouldn't put £4 in those machines. Never mind $£400.

I always tell people your better playing online casinos then those devil machines

Completely agree with you here, save your money buy another beer. And wait to get home and have a slot up online

 

[Molster18]

Sadly a 'Merkur Arcade' popped up in our town's high street just after lockdown too.

We got one too close by, are they crap then? I’ve got male friends who go to a casino all night called genting or something I just wondered why there’s so many of these places and bookies too I don’t remember them as much growing up, just the bookies and wondered why

 

[k6kaysix]

Bookies are restricted to 4 £500 terminals per shop, so they just opened hundreds of shops as a bit of a workaround then when the maximum stake got slashed from £100 to £2 many of these excess shops vanished, they also close at 10pm (not sure if this is an actual restriction or not although there wouldn't be much to 'bet' on in the traditional sense at 3am unless they started showing international sporting events!)

Arcades (Admiral / Merkur the main players you'll come across) at some point got permission to open 24x7 - they basically convince the planning permission that 'an occupied unit in your town is better than a vacant one' and 'we're just offering shift workers a chance to have fun and a gamble!'

They're allowed to have many more than 4 £500 terminals per shop (...more like 40!) and they offer the exact same slots as the bookies

All they need is a customer walking in and doing £500 through within 20 minutes (perfectly possible despite the £2 cap!), that'll cover the wages for the staff standing around trying not to fall asleep and the electric etc. etc.

I'm told by my local arcade (in a very small town centre) they do nick a lot of trade from the customers that used to have to go to the motorway service stations to get their gambling fix in the twilight hours

 

[Molster18]

Bookies are restricted to 4 £500 terminals per shop, so they just opened hundreds of shops as a bit of a workaround then when the maximum stake got slashed from £100 to £2 many of these excess shops vanished, they also close at 10pm (not sure if this is an actual restriction or not although there wouldn't be much to 'bet' on in the traditional sense at 3am unless they started showing international sporting events!)

Arcades (Admiral / Merkur the main players you'll come across) at some point got permission to open 24x7 - they basically convince the planning permission that 'an occupied unit in your town is better than a vacant one' and 'we're just offering shift workers a chance to have fun and a gamble!'

They're allowed to have many more than 4 £500 terminals per shop (...more like 40!) and they offer the exact same slots as the bookies

All they need is a customer walking in and doing £500 through within 20 minutes (perfectly possible despite the £2 cap!), that'll cover the wages for the staff standing around trying not to fall asleep and the electric etc. etc.

I'm told by my local arcade (in a very small town centre) they do nick a lot of trade from the customers that used to have to go to the motorway service stations to get their gambling fix in the twilight hours

£100 a spin.. thx for explaining that. I’ve seen them at service stations now I drive and yeah town now has admiral, Merkur and some other place too. Lots of shut shops.

 

[mack341]

I've seen a novomatic shop I think, all the windows are sort of blacked out, with a swish looking front door - but again you can't see through it to the mysterious other side.

It might be a merkur tho. I'm surprised the uk tabloids haven't run "German gambling companies target uk addicts or run down towns in blighty" type headlines.

Maybe they'll break into the IOM market and Choppers can do a visit but for some reason I'd expect them to be unfriendly to camera footage folk.

 

[k6kaysix]

Here is a perfect example of the absolute nonsense Merkur come out with to get the planning permission!

When is the last time you saw someone pop into a Merkur or similar, spend their 'spare change' and have a game of bingo!

Supporting documents for the proposal claimed the venue, which provides electronic bingo tablets for players, would provide benefits to the town’s high street.

An information brochure, said: “Over 90 per cent of new MerkurSlots venues occupy former vacant units and provide investment from £100,000 to £250,000 in long-standing vacant venues. It would provide Increased footfall to the high street and we provide an important natural surveillance, particularly late into the evenings.”

Merkur Slots said its customer base after midnight was ‘predominantly the local entertainment workforce and shift workers who like to relax after their busy shifts’. They added that the machines generate low levels of noise, that ‘we do not have public address systems that you find in seaside amusement centres’ and that their venues only played background music.

The statement added that adult gaming centres ‘are often, unfortunately, put into the same category as betting shops’. “Public concerns surrounding betting shops were largely due to the presence of Fixed Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs).


“Our venues do not operate these types of machines. Our machines offer low stakes ranging from 10p to a maximum of £2. These machines have been around for many, many years.

“Our centres are where people come to spend their spare change, have a game of bingo and enjoy their favourite pastime in convenient locations.”

 

[Siohmy]

I've seen a novomatic shop I think, all the windows are sort of blacked out, with a swish looking front door - but again you can't see through it to the mysterious other side.

It might be a merkur tho. I'm surprised the uk tabloids haven't run "German gambling companies target uk addicts or run down towns in blighty" type headlines.

Maybe they'll break into the IOM market and Choppers can do a visit but for some reason I'd expect them to be unfriendly to camera footage folk.

I think you’re probably not looking hard enough. There have been a number of news articles over the years pointing out the proliferation of arcades/bookies in more deprived areas. Of course, whether anything will ever be done is whether the relevant councils will get a conscience and stop granting licenses. Don’t hold your breath.

 

[mack341]

I think you’re probably not looking hard enough. There have been a number of news articles over the years pointing out the proliferation of arcades/bookies in more deprived areas. Of course, whether anything will ever be done is whether the relevant councils will get a conscience and stop granting licenses. Don’t hold your breath.

No I've seen those, but it was more the tabloids missing the German angle that surprises me, it's ripe for one of their headlines.

Just had a quick browse of Merkur's corporate (uk) website and thought the following part was a bit of an odd, pointed way to put things:

"The company employs over 2,500 people in the UK and supports high street economies in 140 parliamentary constituencies."

And then below that there are news items about supporting various charities like breast cancer and brain tumour research.

It smacks of a bit of blatant pr...I dunno.

 

[dealer wins]

If Merkur got their way, they would open up arcades with 70% RTP slots, with an offie, drug dealer/using room and prostitute booths.

That way it would cater to all addicts

Come to think about it, sounds like a good night out dont it

 

[Molster18]

I think you’re probably not looking hard enough. There have been a number of news articles over the years pointing out the proliferation of arcades/bookies in more deprived areas. Of course, whether anything will ever be done is whether the relevant councils will get a conscience and stop granting licenses. Don’t hold your breath.

From what I’ve read recently they can’t say no due to aim to permit, they can say no to 24/7 with good reasons but don’t have the powers to refuse. Councils are joining forces, here 3 have joined together.

 

[YouTubeSlots]

If Merkur got their way, they would open up arcades with 70% RTP slots, with an offie, drug dealer/using room and prostitute booths.

That way it would cater to all addicts

Come to think about it, sounds like a good night out dont it

This is why I never go inside those dirty high street arcades, I can only imagine the type of scrubbers that go in there, I wouldn't feel safe with money around those people, especially if you win they will probably follow you outside and ask to borrow a fiver.

 

[kidgloves]

What makes me chuckle is how the UKGC have their finger up everybody's ass in terms of online UK control but bricks and mortar you can happily get away with a lot more.
The main issue I have with bookies / online is how 90% of slots are such high variance these days that if you are playing in a bookies on lower percentages then as the OP says you can often get ZERO fun and play time let alone a feature for a considerable sum of money.
That leads to the gamblers psyche of not having had enough of a play and promotes putting more money in. The UKGC should be implementing more rules regarding the profile of games where a lot more games (not all) are coded for lower to mid variance and more frequent hits to lower values. I don't mind losing a hundred or so if I've had some play time for an hour but don't take my money in 5 minutes which just makes me feel insta rage.

 

[slot_zombie]

This is why I never go inside those dirty high street arcades, I can only imagine the type of scrubbers that go in there, I wouldn't feel safe with money around those people, especially if you win they will probably follow you outside and ask to borrow a fiver.

It's mostly eastern Europeans rowing Novomatics on max stake, and British pensioners eking out their money on Rainbow Riches community 10p spins, these days.

Not a great atmosphere but neither is loitering or scrounging allowed.

 

[Siohmy]

What makes me chuckle is how the UKGC have their finger up everybody's ass in terms of online UK control but bricks and mortar you can happily get away with a lot more.
The main issue I have with bookies / online is how 90% of slots are such high variance these days that if you are playing in a bookies on lower percentages then as the OP says you can often get ZERO fun and play time let alone a feature for a considerable sum of money.
That leads to the gamblers psyche of not having had enough of a play and promotes putting more money in. The UKGC should be implementing more rules regarding the profile of games where a lot more games (not all) are coded for lower to mid variance and more frequent hits to lower values. I don't mind losing a hundred or so if I've had some play time for an hour but don't take my money in 5 minutes which just makes me feel insta rage.

I sort of get what you’re saying but part of what helped me escape my addiction to pub machines in the UK is that the manufacturers got greedy. They prioritised high jackpots above fun so eventually it was easy to walk away. The same goes for the £500 jackpots. Sure, initially people will get sucked in by the odd big win but when you get 20-30 losing spins frequently on a slot which only has a £500 jackpot you will eventually walk away.
The staggeringly narrow minded, short term greed of casinos/slot makers will bite them on the ass again. Hell, it happened once and you learned nothing!

 

[heiuheyou]

I’ve noticed the RTP on those machines feels pretty low lately, plus it’s weird how wins seem way rarer in-shop compared to online. Definitely not as fun as it used to be.

 

[Siohmy]

I’ve noticed the RTP on those machines feels pretty low lately, plus it’s weird how wins seem way rarer in-shop compared to online. Definitely not as fun as it used to be.

Not so much the RTP but many bookies slots have increased the volatility to stupid levels for a slot with a max 500x win. They don’t just want your money, they want it quickly.

 

[heiuheyou]

Sounds rough. Tried playing slots on *whatever* and it felt way more fair and transparent—hits actually happen and it’s easy to see how the odds work. High street FOBTs can definitely feel like they’re taking your money with zero chance of fun. Online platforms that handle things fairly make it easier to enjoy the game without feeling ripped off every spin, which makes a huge difference in the experience.

 

[slot_zombie]

Sounds rough. Tried playing slots on *whatever* and it felt way more fair and transparent—hits actually happen and it’s easy to see how the odds work. High street FOBTs can definitely feel like they’re taking your money with zero chance of fun. Online platforms that handle things fairly make it easier to enjoy the game without feeling ripped off every spin, which makes a huge difference in the experience.

Not sure about cowtown but I feel "restricted posting privileges" town coming on strong

 

[stephenrjjr]

Some might think I'm exaggerating here but I can assure you that it's a fair reflection of all which I've experienced on bookies FOBT over the last 8 or so years:

Yesterday I put well over £400 in a bookies (WH) FOBT Slot (brand new game) and recieved Precisely ZERO Gameplay or Value For Money for the cash inserted At All, this is about the 1,000th time that this exact same experience has happened to me for similar or larger amounts of money lost over the best part of the last decade or so and it is Patently Obvious to me now that I am not recieving any fairness or fair chance of winning anything at all . . . So, the question undoubtedly is 'What On Earth Is Wrong With Bookmakers FOBT Slot Offerings!!?'.

Despicable would literally be an understatement to describe how appalling the nature of the constant losing spins 'gameplay' I have received for my money on these 'slot machines' has actually been in reality.

At this point in 2025 it actually feels more so than ever like these high street shops are basically just stealing my money now without even so much as a cursory nod towards fairness at all and judging from all I've seen during my own 'gameplay' and that of other players losing their money right next to me, I'm certain that I'm not alone in how angry I feel.

The bottom line is that the FOBT Slots gambling currently 'On Offer' to UK Gamblers is Appallingly Unfair and I have proven this beyond all doubt through my very own shockingly bad experiences and the huge financial losses that these sessions have inflicted upon me cumulatively.

Who should I make representation to about these losses and the unfairness reflected in the dreadful rtp% performance throughout my own woeful experiences playing(?) the FOBT units in these high street chains / shops because The UKGC has openly informed me in writing that they no longer enforce or check rtp% performance of any gambling products (neither the hardware nor software) anywhere within the UK because it would be 'Impractical To Do So!', and also where do I complain about the lack of real world lawful performance of FOBT units at these high street establishments, If indeed that is (as I strongly suspect) what is actually occurring on a daily basis within these establishments in reality?

From my own experience I would genuinely say the RTP is operating at around 50% in these places I know that sounds extremely low but just going by what I see someone putting £600 into a game no win next person comes along same game another £300 no win then it will pay out £350 odd on a bonus seems to be month long swings where the machines aren’t paying out anything then a day or two swing they’ll pay it’s very suspicious and the scape goat is it’s worked out ober millions of spins which I think is a loophole the software can use to collect a lot more than the suggested 92% let’s be honest if it was 92% they wouldn’t even be in the bookies lol when moneys involved can gaurantee there is shady business going on

 

[stephenrjjr]

Some might think I'm exaggerating here but I can assure you that it's a fair reflection of all which I've experienced on bookies FOBT over the last 8 or so years:

Yesterday I put well over £400 in a bookies (WH) FOBT Slot (brand new game) and recieved Precisely ZERO Gameplay or Value For Money for the cash inserted At All, this is about the 1,000th time that this exact same experience has happened to me for similar or larger amounts of money lost over the best part of the last decade or so and it is Patently Obvious to me now that I am not recieving any fairness or fair chance of winning anything at all . . . So, the question undoubtedly is 'What On Earth Is Wrong With Bookmakers FOBT Slot Offerings!!?'.

Despicable would literally be an understatement to describe how appalling the nature of the constant losing spins 'gameplay' I have received for my money on these 'slot machines' has actually been in reality.

At this point in 2025 it actually feels more so than ever like these high street shops are basically just stealing my money now without even so much as a cursory nod towards fairness at all and judging from all I've seen during my own 'gameplay' and that of other players losing their money right next to me, I'm certain that I'm not alone in how angry I feel.

The bottom line is that the FOBT Slots gambling currently 'On Offer' to UK Gamblers is Appallingly Unfair and I have proven this beyond all doubt through my very own shockingly bad experiences and the huge financial losses that these sessions have inflicted upon me cumulatively.

Who should I make representation to about these losses and the unfairness reflected in the dreadful rtp% performance throughout my own woeful experiences playing(?) the FOBT units in these high street chains / shops because The UKGC has openly informed me in writing that they no longer enforce or check rtp% performance of any gambling products (neither the hardware nor software) anywhere within the UK because it would be 'Impractical To Do So!', and also where do I complain about the lack of real world lawful performance of FOBT units at these high street establishments, If indeed that is (as I strongly suspect) what is actually occurring on a daily basis within these establishments in reality?

I think from personal experience and seeing other punters experience pretty much every day or two for the last 5 years I would say the machines are paying out close to 40% RTP machines r collecting thousands every week yet the jackpots are extremely rare if it was 92% they wouldn’t even jackpots would be a bit more common for what’s being put in also the swings of collecting and not paying can last months but the swings of paying last maybe a day or two max I think they want us to beleive this is all checked by gambling commission and all above board but I highly doubt it there will always be workarounds for these companies bookies are making a clean fortune think of the huge collecting every week and small pay outs everyday anyone who thinks it’s above board and legal whay they are doing have obv never actually played these things more than a handful of times lol