THURSDAY’S package of fines levied against betting company 888.com totalled £7.8m, a remarkable increase on the previous biggest comparable fine of £846k which Gala Coral were forced to pay after failing to take steps to identify and rein-in a problem gambler who stole hundreds of thousands to feed his addiction and ended up serving time in jail.

In the latest case, there is a strong parallel, with a customer allowed to wager an average of £100k per month for over a year, losing heavily and ending up stealing from his employer in a vain attempt to recoup losses.