If you fancy an odd flutter on the horses or the dogs and you're searching for a career, you may be tempted to believe that the University of Salford's three-year degree programme in business economics and gambling studies is just for you. But think again.
"This course does not teach you how to be gambler," stresses Dr Greg Anderson, head of Salford's economics department. "It teaches you how to be an economist."
Economists are in short supply in Britain, according to Salford's European liaison officer, Sue Neilson. "A lot of people don't appreciate it, but economists are starting on £40,000 a year and after that the sky's the limit," she says.
The gambling industry is particularly interested in economists, Anderson says. "It's a huge global industry and is very big in Europe, the United States, Africa and Australia. In Britain we have a variety of gambling activities - the Lottery, the football pools, casinos and horse racing, for example. They are increasingly being regulated by the government."
The degree programme was developed in response to the need - expressed by the industry - for a more academic approach to the study of gambling. "The gaming industry was finding it impossible to recruit the right calibre of management," Neilson recalls. "They came to us with a proposal and we developed a course, which is now two years old."
On the course you learn about economics and focus on the use of economic theory in the analysis of business problems. The course also includes analyses of the economic, social, cultural and mathematical contexts of gambling.
Course participants study economics, the principles of economic theory and quantitative economics. They examine the core theory of microeconomics and gaming and gambling from the perspective of industrial economics, probability and risk, psychology and sociology.
There are also options in law, accounting, marketing and languages.
The programme offers visits to casinos and betting shops, talks from members of the industry regulatory bodies and charitable institutions. Although many students come to the course via the UCAS system, some students are "non-mainstream", says Andersen, and have worked in the industry or have family connections with it.
Up to 10 bursaries, which provide financial support to the tune of £900 a year, vacation work and six months' work experience at the end of the course, are available to suitable applicants.
To get a place on the course, you'll need a minimum of five Cs at higherlevel Leaving Cert, including maths. However, mature students with or without standard applications are also welcome, the college says.
For information, phone 0044 161 295 5000. Enquiries from mature applicants are welcome - they should contact course tutor Dr Michael Caine - phone 0044 161 295 5235, email m.cain@economics.salford.ac.uk.
