At it's core, the gambling regulator has allowed bookmakers to build a poor business model on machine fixed pay out (94% for example). 6% gross margin on money staked over a large number of plays, before costs and tax - making a profit from customers while they sleep. Punters will never win long term on these machines - that is a mathematical fact. That is why you see constant adverts, promotion and celeb endorsements. MENTAL when you really consider they promote a product freely that a punter simply cannot win on. These machines offer big lights, thrill of the bonus, a potential grand Jackpots and are strategically manipulated to play on the brains endorphins. The part above is what can be very harmful and put gamblers at risk. This part of the betting world - in my opinion - should be entirely separated from sports betting & not be allowed to be advertised freely on TV. When we look at Sports Betting. There is no guaranteed profit for the bookmakers. The playing field becomes far more level - not entirely, but much more. The Gambling Commission studied almost 15 million betting accounts. Of the 643,779 accounts commercially restricted, 46.78% were in lifetime profit, compared with 25.42% of accounts overall. The fact is sports betting is commercially unattractive if its betting suggests a future edge. And even more unattractive if they lose their bread & butter with machine taxes. The problem is the business model leans heavily on one and seems to merely put up with the other. The question is why has the commission allowed bookmakers to build a casino style model that sees professional sports rely on it? The second question is why are they now trying to tear it down and blame the bookmakers for being allowed to do it? The fault doesn't lie with the bookmaker trying to earn a few quid and build what seemed to be a stable model. The fault lies with coupling sportsbook betting, racing, football with the casino style products. The two should have clear seperation. Slots, Machines and casino's in the pocket are almost certainly (no figures here my personal opinion) the cause of most gambling problems, at least what I have seen in the Highstreet and via friend groups. Yet, accounts are restricted for sports bettors, checks required, proof of funds needed, to have £40 on a 4/1 chance at Fakenham. All the while, Johhny x is putting his rent through Big Bass and allowed to continue. Don't blame the bookmakers because they were allowed to build a profitable betting model any more than you blame the vegas casinos. Racing has to stop relying on the current bookmaker model as difficult as it may be and simply take the money as extra income rather than having a begging bowl, then when it doesn't get filled they starve. Racing itself is not innocent either. Lack of innovation, lack of new ideas, lack of new income - the only thing they know how to do is put the gate price up. The racing industry needs to stand up and back itself and it's product not pander to those that oppose it. The Grand National Fences and field size being one! There are far smarter brains out there than me that can solve this, but sitting around talking for years with no change has led to this, rather than innovation and risk taking.