Britain's service sector has suffered along with its metal-bashers from the slowdown in the economy. Yet one service industry, the world's second-oldest―gambling― is experiencing a renaissance. A decade ago, high street betting shops were sullen, dodgy places. Regulations required curtains to shield pedestrians from the evil business inside. Carpets were forbidden, lest punters got too comfortable. Food and drink, even the soft variety, were prohibited. Britons, it seemed, were content to tolerate gambling, but not to love it. Then came three important changes. In the 1990s, the National Lottery brought gambling in from the cold, letting the middle classes experience the thrill of a flutter. Secondly, the Internet found that gambling was, like pornography, perfectly suited to the medium. That led, thirdly, to Gordon Brown's decision to eliminate betting tax.
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