Kneejerk reaction to Gambling Commission report from opportunistic critics was all too predictable
Industry editor Bill Barber's weekly take on the key stories from the worlds of racing and betting
The kneejerk reaction last week to the figures contained in the Gambling Commission's latest Young People and Gambling report was not a huge surprise.
The headline figure from the commission's survey was that the problem gambling rate for 11- to 17-year-olds had more than doubled from 0.7 per cent to 1.5 per cent and it drew a predictable response.
One notable example came from former Conservative Party leader Iain Duncan Smith, who recently became chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Gambling Reform. Duncan Smith claimed that gambling operators were "completely out of control" and were "going after young people".
Read the full story
Read award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing, with exclusive news, interviews, columns, investigations, stable tours and subscriber-only emails.
Subscribe to unlock
- Racing Post digital newspaper (worth over £100 per month)
- Award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing
- Expert tips from the likes of Tom Segal and Paul Kealy
- Replays and results analysis from all UK and Irish racecourses
- Form study tools including the Pro Card and Horse Tracker
- Extensive archive of statistics covering horses, trainers, jockeys, owners, pedigree and sales data
Already a subscriber?Log in
Published on inOn The Money
Last updated
Copy- British racing's problems are not all of its own making but recent call to action must be heeded
- There is no misunderstanding - the Gambling Commission is responsible for the confusion caused by affordability checks
- Labour government starts making progress on gambling reform - but tone of announcement gives cause for concern
- A stark warning for British racing as vested interests continue to undermine progress
- Racing is losing precious time as the Jockey Club's search for a leader suffers major blow
- British racing's problems are not all of its own making but recent call to action must be heeded
- There is no misunderstanding - the Gambling Commission is responsible for the confusion caused by affordability checks
- Labour government starts making progress on gambling reform - but tone of announcement gives cause for concern
- A stark warning for British racing as vested interests continue to undermine progress
- Racing is losing precious time as the Jockey Club's search for a leader suffers major blow