Keith Melrose: one-size-fits-all approach would be a disaster for sports bettors

The central problem of the 2005 Gambling Act, which has ultimately precipitated the review announced this week, is that it left the wrong people in charge. The freedom given to bookmakers was not adequately balanced by the powers of the Gambling Commission. The fear most punters should have going into this review is that the mistake might well be repeated.

It would be a grave error if the approach taken is similar to the recent moves to restrict FOBT stakes. That was easy by comparison. Limiting stakes to limit losses and thus harm is a broadly logical approach when it comes to games of chance with fixed odds.

It would not be disastrous, albeit sub-optimal, if all online casino-type betting were treated this way, but to apply similar thinking to sports betting would be calamitous.