"How the Gambling Commission's Unpopular Affordability Checks Are Ruining Racing"

DESTRUCTION.

That’s what the Gambling Commission is causing problem gamblers and Britain’s second most watched sport – a globally respected industry.

Remember scenes like this – tens of thousands of punters loving our sport – when you think of the damage the Gambling Commission has wrought on our cherished sport Credit: The Times Flat or jumps, Ascot or anywhere, it’s all now at risk with this shameful decision Credit: Getty

What a legacy…

Shame on you Gambling Commission. Shame on you.

And shame on Governments and the DCMS – who totally lack understanding of the gambling brief – who have not stepped in and put a stop to this out-of-control quango.

Other Governments around the world are doing all they can to help a sport with such history.

In the UK the opposite. What a surprise.

No one reading this or involved in any walk of life wants people with addictions to suffer.

We should all do our best to help them.

Racing and bookmakers contribute over £100million a year towards the statutory gambling levy.

Over four times the help Government gives.

The fund is ringfenced solely for research, prevention and treatment of gambling-related harm.

But the simple truth is that the nature of being human means some will always be more vulnerable than others.

I have said many times a gambling addict is an addict.

It’s not the gambling that is the problem.

Now, through affordability checks or financial assessments, those in trouble will forever be driven to an unregulated black market. Insane!

And away from that, the consequence is an industry that should be flourishing is in meltdown.

That’s nearly 100,000 jobs in danger, £300million to the Treasury in danger and £4billion to the UK economy in danger.

Not to mention communities you live in being hit hard.

And remember it is YOU who are being told how to spend YOUR hard-earned cash.

Gambling is not like smoking or drinking alcohol, where one puff or one sip can cause you harm.

Many of you will have a little wager on the World Cup and are not suddenly facing addiction and self-harm.

It’s the same with the horses.

And why shouldn’t you bet and spend your wages freely?

The Gambling Commission members should go home tonight, look in the mirror and hang their heads in shame.

They simply could not have done a worse job.

They have failed themselves and all of us.