In its place, instant, impersonal, clinical account closures. To make matters worse, the sheer number of accounts being closed has meant that the old methods – a face-to-face meeting in a box at ascot where both sides reach a gentlemen’s’ agreement regarding future conduct – is no longer remotely feasible. The problem has become so widespread that in January of this year, the All Party Parliamentary Betting & Gaming Group commissioned a debate around whether bookmakers are unfairly closing customers’ accounts.

One punter contacted us to complain that they were banned recently when their total spend on the account had been a mere £20. Nowadays however, those whose betting patterns are far from elite are suffering too.

Indeed, it was almost a badge of honour – being banned marked you down as a little dangerous, and very rich. Once upon a time, a betting account suspension was pretty much the reserve of only the real high flyers elite punters who really knew how to bring home big profits.