the main problem that racing has that in this country the only time racing gets media coverage ..its usually negative. It would matter not what C4 racing or the ML had been doing for the last 12 months...even if it had been brilliant and attracting new viewers..the awful documentary ..including a lot of horse racing...not long ago featuring Corals would have wiped out any good that would have achieved.
If a neutral had watched that 3 part documentary they would have seen:
1. That bookies are happy to flood the high street with shops just for machine use. they showed two in one town..one round the corner from the other.
2. That even if you win you will then you be limited or have your account closed..so you only welcome if you will please lose your money.
3. That they were happy to show a young lad who was addicted to the machines..showed him at home with a cupboard of pasta to last him a fortnight..happy enough to film him..no sign of anyone trying to help him with his addiction though.
None of the above was a good bit of PR..it was a disaster for bookieing and altogether made the whole industry look pretty grubby
whilst the above is being highlighted on mainstream, TV..its hardly surprising people aren't drawn in
the best bit is..Corals actually believed it was good PR??