In the 1960’s I worked as a settler in a William Hill betting shop, earning the grand sum of £3 per day. In those days board markers put the results up. I started half and hour before the first race and left half an hour after the last. There were no televisions but after the first race the place was packed. You never stepped; time was never noticed until the last race. It was an interesting job getting to know people. It was all very friendly and safe.
Nowadays the staff are behind a screen with nothing to do. Nobody is backing horses and the only people there are playing the fruit machines. It is extremely boring for staff whose only job in reality is to empty the fruit machines at the end of the day and put the money in the safe.
With the tax take on ‘one arm bandits’ increasing bookmakers would have to reduce the payout to compensate, so even the mug gamblers are getting the message. No wonder so many shops are closing.