Does X mark the spot?

Who let the dogs out?

Following news last week, also reported in Hot Copy, that Wales had opted to introduce a ban on greyhound racing, there was no shortage of fears the same might spread to the rest of the UK.

BBC News this week allayed some of those worries, however, as it reported that there are “absolutely no plans” to extend the ban across the rest of the country.

That quote came from the UK’s culture secretary, Lisa Nandy, who this week told MPs that she appreciates “the joy that it brings to many, many people in our country and the economic contribution that it makes.”

The ban in Wales, meanwhile, came following cross-party calls to outlaw the sport and a petition carrying some 35,000 signatures.

Its impact will be limited, however, given that Wales has just one dog-racing track, compared to 21 in the rest of the United Kingdom.

The Welsh ban still does not have an implementation date attached to it, but the country’s deputy first minister has said “I want a ban to come into force as soon as practicably possible,” according to BBC News.

In response to the ban, the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB), which regulates the sport, said the change had “nothing to do with greyhound welfare and everything to do with pressure from the extreme animal rights movement”.

While there’s no shortage of strong opinions on this matter, it seems that for now, at least, greyhound and horse racing remain relatively safe across the rest of the UK.

Tonali looks back

Elsewhere, previously banned Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali was the focus of an article in The Athletic this week, as he reflected that “he only realised how ‘serious’ his gambling addiction was during his 10-month ban from football”.

The Italian-born player, who faced a suspension from the sport between October 2023 and August 2024 for breaking gambling rules, was found to have been placing bets both during his time at AC Milan and subsequently at Newcastle, after joining the team for ￡55m in summer 2023.

Having spent 10 months training but unable to play in matches, Tonali made his return to the professional sport in August, “and has become an integral fixture” in the Newcastle team since then, according to The Athletic.

Now, reflecting on the time he spent suspended from the sport, Tonali says “it’s not an exaggeration to talk about a first and a second life.

“I closed myself off from everyone and this caused me to change my behaviour: even with the people who loved me and ones I loved. I was like this both at training and at home, with friends and family. Today, fortunately, I’m different.”

His story goes to show that there is a chance at recovery from the negative effects of gambling-related harm, and has also reportedly helped inspire others to leave their harmful gambling behaviours behind.

“Tonali remains immensely grateful for the empathy shown to him by everyone inside Newcastle, and supporters who sang his name and held up banners of support during his suspension, and he is now rewarding their loyalty by delivering top-class performances on the pitch,”The Athletic staff writer Chris Waugh concludes.

“His battle against his addiction remains ongoing, but Tonali seems to view himself as a reformed character.”

While everyone in this industry should understand the potentially devastating impact of gambling harm, stories like Tonali’s help demonstrate that there can always be a light at the end of the tunnel.

X marks the spot?

Finally, Rolling Stone this week asked a question many in our industry have no doubt been grappling with for a while: “How did an online crypto casino take over Twitter?”

For anyone not aware what this headline refers to, a quick look on the social media site, rebranded as X since its takeover by rocket enthusiast Elon Musk, ought to reveal all.

“Nothing speaks more to the downfall of X than the meme-regurgitating ads for Stake,” this article suggests, as it compares the Twitter of old to the experience of using the social media site today.

Prior to the takeover and subsequent rebrand, it argues, “the app was a wildly popular social media site known for throwing everything from the latest breaking news to the newest memes all on the same constantly refreshing timeline.?

“Now, it’s an ad- and bot-ridden playground for far-right posters — and nothing shows its downfall more than this inescapable scourge: Stake ads.”

As many users have noticed, pictures and videos featuring the brand’s logo are seemingly everywhere on X, often accompanied by Community Notes pointing out that unauthorised gambling ads are not permitted on the platform.

Highly popular meme accounts “have begun running dozens of Stake ads every day — posting the logo on viral jokes and stolen videos,” Rolling Stone reports.

This, the piece argues, has become “the current face of true digital slop. And people are tired of it.”

As the article points out, it is not clear whether Stake owns the accounts or is paying the users to tweet content featuring its logo. Usually, though, the accounts include the Stake X handle in their bios.

The critical mass of Stake ads now permeating the platform has “taken X’s shaky infrastructure and content-farm feeling from bad to unbearable,” according to the piece.

While the gambling industry is always looking for new and innovative ways to market itself, it seems that according to this author at least, X certainly doesn’t mark the spot.

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