Racing needs to argue for as much regulatory space as possible between betting and gaming, and ideally with one voice
![Talking Horses: Jockey Club’s Playtech deal feels like a new low](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/1b42e1dba524e229aaf5a72339607c90af730d7f/0_319_3327_1996/master/3327.jpg?width=1200&height=630&quality=85&auto=format&fit=crop&overlay-align=bottom%2Cleft&overlay-width=100p&overlay-base64=L2ltZy9zdGF0aWMvb3ZlcmxheXMvdGctZGVmYXVsdC5wbmc&enable=upscale&s=ae1e0bcdf12ba7ab2e76552a7e481ce9)
There is a long and inglorious history in racing of individual bodies or businesses opting for short-term gain ahead of the broader interests of the sport. But even so the Jockey Club’s decision to sign a five-year deal with the gaming giant Playtech, which was announced last week, feels like a new low.
The result, according to Playtech’s casino director, James Frendo, will be “a full range of exceptional and exciting cross-product content”. Or the Jockey Club flogging Playtech some racing-themed wrapping paper for software that mechanically grinds a fixed percentage of turnover from its users, depending on your point of view.