Millions of pounds are won and lost every day through betting on horse races, with punters and trainers risking large amounts of money. The Grand National is traditionally horse racing's biggest event and attracts over 10 million UK viewers and another 600 million worldwide. With 6 million people attending racecourses throughout England the gambling section of this sport is continuously growing.

The UK gambling industry employed 96,000 people in 2003-4 and by 2005 £47.7 billion pounds of stakes were placed in the United Kingdom. The Total Duties collected on gambling in the UK were £1.4 billion, including £0.4 billion on betting.

On the internet you will find many websites offering tips and advice on upcoming horse races. Some of these websites your better off not visiting, whilst there are some that you may find helpful, and may even win you a quid or two. By doing a qucik search online you will find hundreds of sites offereing advice and tips on betting. swiftracing has compiled a short list of some of the better horse racing tips and advice websites;

freeracingtips.co.uk - Racing tips

ukhorseracing.co.uk - tips and advice

punters-paradie.co.uk - horse racing community

Gambling is not an industry like any other. What can be a harmless pastime for most of us can become a terrible addiction for a few others. It is essential to ensure that it is properly and carefully regulated.

The Gambling Act 2005 offers greater protection for the vulnerable minority who develop problems. Since the introduction of this law, all gambling operators have to act in a socially responsible way; this will no longer be just optional best practice.

The gambling industry has established a law named the Responsibility in Gambling Trust (RIGT). This was brought in to fund prevention and treatment of problem gambling. It will provide money for new programmes to research into the causes of problem gambling and effective treatment methods. The trust, even before legislation, has already raised more than £2 million. Horse racing is also regulated by the independent British Horseracing Authority.