Inside dodgy firms making £10,000 a day from James Bond-style drones which give punters split-second edge on bets

Drones are beaming live pictures to in-running punters. They are a lucrative business for the operators. One of them even pays an elderly woman to let them operate from her back garden. The drones are fully-licensed and carry a camera system which costs up to £20,000. Punters can access the drone footage through an app. They have a head-start of around a second on Racing TV viewers. Sky Sports Racing and ITV delay their broadcast by 4-5 seconds.

Drones are being used to give punters a split-second edge on bets. The operators pay local residents a decent chunk of cash to fly them from their properties. One firm has flown their drone from a lay-by on the A141 just yards from Huntingdon. Another has flew from the back garden of an elderly woman who lives a short distance from Chelmsford City racecourse.

There is a constant risk of a drone crash and injury to horses, jockeys or racegoers. Premier League rules state that play must be stopped immediately if a Drone is sighted. There are no such rules in British racing. Arena Racing Company, who run 16 racecourses in Britain, have been exploring possible legal action for several years.

Remember to gamble responsibly. Establishes time and monetary limits before playing. Gambling is risky and should be avoided if you are upset, angry or depressed.

Dodgy firms are making £10,000 a day from James Bond-style drones which give punters a split-second edge on bets.