The horse racing week ahead and the YouGov survey into affordability checks

It really is the calm before the storm here in the UK with just about everybody’s minds already on the Cheltenham Festival in 8-days time. With the greatest of respect to the meetings this week they really are over shadowed somewhat by the big one at Cheltenham.  

That said there are a few nice races over the next seven days and I potentially have a bet or two up my sleeve so stay tuned as they say. The big race of the week is on Saturday and is the Imperial Cup at Sandown with that bonus for the winner of they go on to win a race at the Festival; I am told the last horse to manage it was Gaspara back in 2007.

I was interested to read that the findings of a YouGov survey commissioned by the Betting and Gaming Council on the subject of affordability checks; I did a small piece on this earlier in the year: http://www.girdysgeegees.com/blog/seeking-views-on-how-gambling-companies-interact-with-their-custom... In short the survey found only 27 per cent of respondents in support of limits being imposed on the amount people can gamble before they, in effect, have to show they incomings and outgoings to confirm they can afford to have a punt! 51 percent were opposed. I think it is a horrendous idea. I fully appreciate there is a need to watch for gamblers with a 'problem' and help them in anyway we can where necessary but there simply must be better ways to do it than checking the personal finances of every Tom, Dick and Harriett that wants to place a bet.