Commission figures highlight betting shop closures

Betting shop closures highlighted in the latest set of industry statistics released by the Gambling Commission were "very bad news" for the sector's future, according to the Association of British Bookmakers.

The number of active betting shops closed at a rate of more than 13 a week over the six months to September, bucking the trend for one per cent falls over recent six-month periods.

From March to September this year numbers slumped by 3.9 per cent to 8,502, which meant there were 342 fewer shops than in March.