Research consistently indicates that people with higher levels of qualifications are less likely to gamble and that the manual social classes, IIIM, IV and V (or C2, D and E), are those most likely to gamble regularly, and especially on bingo, slot machines, off-course betting and the football pools (Sproston, Erens and Orford, 2000: p. 22). This paper considers the social factors that underlie these facts and explores the potential of the provisions within the UK Gambling Act (2005) to cause an increase in levels of problem gambling amongst the working classes