'We have a job to do to make sure MPs are led by evidence not soundbites'

Sports minister Nigel Huddleston has promised the Gambling Act review will be "evidence-based", one of the rare encouraging comments for the industry to have emanated from Westminster where the welcome for the sector is often frosty.

The imminent launch of the government's review dominated proceedings during the Betting and Gaming Council's first annual meeting last Thursday.

Among those to speak were MPs Conor McGinn and Laurence Robertson, along with Conservative peer Lord Smith of Hindhead, who all warned they were unusual in being friends of the industry in Westminster.