More gambling coverage scheduled for Brit TV

In Britain, BBC One has commissioned a new three-part documentary series on retail gambling in the UK under the working title The Bookies, which will, according to spokesmen, go behind the scenes at major land and online bookmaking firm Coral.

The series will follow the lives of punters who gamble thousands, to those who place smaller bets on football matches and television series, in a bid to learn why gambling is so popular and commands the attention of some 8 million Britons despite economic recession.

Emma Willis, head of documentaries for the broadcaster, told the publication DigitalSpy: “Betting shops are a key part of the high street and an unwavering part of modern British life.

“The Bookies will take a compelling look at how the industry works, the everyday realities of life on the betting floor and why we’re betting more as a nation.”

A spokesman for Boundless, the production company behind the new series, said that the company regarded the commission as a major project.

Managing director Patrick Holland said: “Betting is something that millions of British people take part in, yet we know very little about the world and how it operates. The series will engage with the excitement, the characters and the issues from this major industry.”

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