Is it really seven years since Sir Alan Budd published his report on the gambling industry? As I survey the carnage of this country's once healthy gaming sector, it is easy to forget that the respected economist's report was supposed to have ushered in an era of modern gambling laws relevant to the 21st century.

Instead, I find myself writing about yet another casino casualty. Gala Coral, which in 2001 looked set to be one of the leading beneficiaries of gambling deregulation, has confirmed to me that its casino in Piccadilly faces possible closure. Although the opening of the Casino at the Empire, just around the corner, has not helped, the main factors are the smoking ban, the scrapping of big-jackpot Section 21 gaming machines, spiralling duty and a deteriorating consumer outlook.

Like Rank Group, its quoted rival, poor old Gala has had a rough ride. Over the past year, it has closed 12 bingo clubs as well as three casinos in Glasgow, Bristol and Nottingham. The future of the Gala Casino Piccadilly is only the subject of staff consultation, a spokesman said, pointing out that a similar process at its casino in Sunderland had resulted in the club remaining open.

But if I was betting man, I'd say its Piccadilly site was odds-on to close.

Global appeal works for some, not all

Stephen Miron is quitting as chief executive of the Mail on Sunday to handle commercial operations at Global Radio, where he will be chief executive, radio, reporting to Ashley Tabor, group chief executive. If that sounds a little top heavy, remember that this is Britain's biggest ever commercial radio group, combining the old Chrysalis business with GCap Media, with backing from Tabor's father, Michael.

Others are less keen to be linked to Global. Journalists were once told that John Magnier and JP McManus, the Irish investors, were also backers. Now, after a long period of letting that story run, both the Irishmen and Global insist that they are not investors, implying that Tabor Sr is wealthy enough to buy up commercial radio on his own.

I thought it sounded a bit too good to be true. Last month, when InBev announced a recommended $60billion (£32billion) bid for Anheuser-Busch, the brewer of Budweiser and Bud Light, the Belgian-Brazilian group promised to keep all 12 of its American rival's American breweries open. Now, in an SEC filing, InBev says that it will keep the breweries open on condition that “there are no new or increased federal or state excise taxes”.

Team GB's remarkable performance in Beijing has surprised not only the British public - it has caught traders at Spreadex, the spread betting firm, on the hop. The St Albans-based outfit has had to up its spread on the predicted number of gold medals from 11.75-12.25 at the start of the Olympics to a remarkable 18.7-19.2. Long may it continue.

Don't get your hopes up just yet, but there are whispers that Fuzzy's Grub, the City sandwich shop chain, may yet escape the clutches of the administrators. The word in the Square Mile is that the company has been approached by a couple of possible suitors. Fingers crossed.

It's golf, dear readers, but not as we know it. YourGolfTravel.com, the online golf holiday firm, believes that there's a gap in the market for singles golf. Ross Marshall, co-founder of the £7million turnover company, claims that there is growing demand from female players looking for love on the golf course. He reckons that male golfers are seen as a good catch because they are “fit, affluent and good company”. I'm not sure about them being fit, but it certainly can't be the diamond sweaters and plus fours.

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