Cash betting next in the spotlight as affordability checks refuse to go away

John Whittingdale, the minister for gambling and lotteries, looked to be enjoying himself at Windsor on Monday.

One wonders what issues he might have discussed while at the races, apart from the return of crowds and the foul weather, although the subject of affordability checks might have been given an airing given Arena Racing Company chief executive Martin Cruddace has been vocal about the financial effect they might have on racing.

The news in March that Whittingdale had taken over the gambling brief was not met with great enthusiasm by critics of the industry given his supposed affinity for the sector.