Celebrating 50 Years of Bookmakers

Get your party hats on and take in a deep breath so you have enough air for the noisy and colorful party blowouts as we have a momentous occasion to celebrate!

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Betting and Gaming Act 1960 that signaled the UK's willingness to legalize, regulate and support both its gambling industry and its need to protect its citizens.

After May 1st 1961 betting shops have started to spring all across the UK and after a crazy dash of new shops openings with around 100 opening each week. Within six months there were in excess of 10,000 betting shops set up.

In addition the act allowed for casinos to open across the country and in the first five years after the bill came into force there were already over 1,000 casinos established in the UK.

Back in the days when the law was passed the then Labor MP Woodrow Wyatt dispensed some romantic pearls of wisdom with regards to the new Act: “Betting …is a great force for good. For millions, placing a bet is the only democratic decision that they make regularly on their own responsibility"

Later MP Woodrow Wyatt became a Lord and the Chairperson of Tote and he saw great benefits in gambling for the average man who works hard to make a living and support their family and he commented that " In the factory or the office their routine tasks are … performed with little personal initiative or discretion. Dehumanizing fetters the mind and lowers the spirits of the average wage-earner. Placing a bet restores his independence and stimulates his brain.”