Casinos, bookmakers and online betting sites are getting to grips with new gambling laws.
The Gambling Act 2005 has come fully into force, overhauling pieces of legislation dating back as far as 1845.
It will protect children and vulnerable people, cut crime and keep games fair, according to the Government.
But the Salvation Army fears it will bring increased opportunities to gamble and the "normalisation" of an addictive activity.
And the Liberal Democrats have accused the Government of failing to make adequate provisions for potential problems with the Act.
The new laws relax previous restrictions on adverts for gambling to give casinos, online betting sites, bookmakers and other operators the chance to launch TV commercials.
Many gambling websites are preparing to start TV advertising, with Ladbrokes intending to launch a TV campaign later this year, while bookmaker Coral said it could start doing so "in the short to medium-term".
The Gambling Act 2005 governs nearly all forms of gambling including arcades, betting, bingo, casinos, online gambling and gambling in pubs and clubs.
It gives local authority licensing officers new powers to inspect gambling premises to enforce the new laws.
