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…and was really depressed by what he saw.
The betting shop in question was William Hill in Leamington Spa (Warwick St) and it must be the first time in ages (five years??) that I’ve been inside a shop. I stayed in for about 20 minutes.
There were about a dozen punters almost all of whom were really scruffy with a few bordering on vagrant status. The place had an odour that called for a rescinding of the smoking ban. People were eating things out of their pocket. One guy was holding a packet of biscuits, spitting out crumbs on every bite. There were no women in the shop.
All four FOBTs were being played, one by a gentleman who was clearly non compos mentis and another by a worried looking young man who was shoveling tenners from wallet to machine. The other two were repeatedly hitting the buttons intensely watching their credits rise and fall.
As for horse racing, it seemed that most of the other punters were definitely betting on the day’s cards although it appeared to my unaccustomed ears to be drowned out by non-stop prattle from a William Hill TV presenter. He was joyously and endlessly plugging the next betting ‘opportunity’ (that was the word used – something brilliantly Orwellian about it). Perhaps the regulars can tune out the constant stream of noise but to me it made the experience pretty unbearable.
I managed betting shops for Stanley Leisure in the early 80’s and they were very much a social outlet for people. This appears to have gone, as there seemed precious little human interaction taking place. Whether it’s due to the noise level or the intensity of ‘opportunities’ I’m not sure, but hardly a word was being passed between people as they stayed in their gambling ‘bubbles’. Certainly nobody was discussing the next race.
I felt wholly uncomfortable all the time I was in there.
Mike
Welcome to the party Mike ….if Labour manage to get those roulette machines curtailed then the betting shops will die , simple as …
My local bookies (its pretty grotty smell is part of charm …I usually go there a couple of times a year ) inhabited by the 20 quid stuffing into fobt …and mutterings ….but they are helpless mugs if they go broke then so be it , if the machines were removed tomorrow then Id say this shop would close
Ricky
People who bet on horses do so on exchanges Mike , its the parting of the ways …..betting shops are and will continue to be benefit street mini casinos …
Nothing is forever
imo
They are always chatting amongst the ding in my local shop, usually along the lines of the jockey on their losing bet being a poobag.
Ricky, exchanges are great, especially the green up button but the online shops have been brilliant for Cheltenham at least, offering bog, money back specials, NRNB or FB on Antepost, price boosts, extra places, no commission etc.
Blackbeard to conquer the World
66% of the 12 not playing the machines…encouraging perhaps?
Is this the real reason the bookmakers still pay the levy and rights money? Racing is still the hook?
A comparison of the 2013 to 2014 Good Friday betting shop figures would be fascinating.
Mother has ran independants since I was even born and I loved being in there on a Saturday morning helping her open up, agreed lads – it used to be a social outlet.
All the locals come in and get their bets on in the morning and catch-up with local gossip etc and then on their way, generally having to earn brownie points with the missus, shopping etc before home to watch the racing at home.
I followed in her path and ran a Coral shop and it really is force-fed from head office get them on anything bar racing. I was pulled up by an area manager for spending too much time discussing racing with punters.
Unfortunately shows no sign of hierarchical led policy turning around.
- Total Posts 764
I had a chat with an Irish guy in my local bookies a couple of weeks ago. I heard him mumbling about a jockey change so told him "I think Danny Mullins is up". He turned to me and in the strongest of Irish accents said "deeerdetoowetha Willie Mullins!" I nodded my head, "wellyagotdwerteehoo Cheltenham! eeeryeoo Ruby Walsh!" I told him I agreed, and left. I have no idea what he was talking about.
I go into my local Paddy Power betting shop usually once a week on a Saturday Afternoon and it is a good experience. The Staff are friendly and make us cups of tea and coffee, bring out biscuits while we sit and watch the afternoons action unfold.
I am usually the only woman who ‘stays’ in the betting shop, most flit in and out and it’s only on Grand National Day when a flurry of anxious looking women creep tentatively over the threshold of this den of iniquity . Having worked in a betting shop as a Saturday job when I was younger I do not find them intimidating in any way and it was the banning of smoking that made me stay longer to watch the horses, although I’d much rather be at the races and can’t wait for the Craven Meeting and the start of the flat, back in the fresh air round the paddock at HQ.
Couldn’t agree more about the introduction of the FOBT machines, and the lack of interest in the horse racing,also the constant din of PP plugging their Specials. One young chap, oblivious to the world around him, sits scrolling through his mobile whilst feeding money into the machine and pressing the buttons, he only looks up to check his every rising and decreasing balance. I noticed he had £50’s worth of winnings on it one Saturday, within 10 minutes it had all gone and he walked away.
Another old boy comes in regularly just for the free coffee and the biscuit and never has a bet and some just call in for the company and yes we do discuss the horses and if anyone wins it’s off to Greggs for a packet of doughnuts.I do feel for the staff though who have to stay in a virtually empty shop for unsociable hours babysitting the FOBT’s, I’d want a minder if I had to do that job now
.Things turn out best for those who make the best of how things turn out...I’ve no problem with betting shops closing, there are far too many, several within a few doors of each other and many where they previously didn’t exist, Ladbrokes have 2 within a couple of doors of each other on a small street near me and there’s also a Coral’s, there was previously only 1.
They wont lay a decent bet on the horses and FOBT’s don’t belong in them, they should be in casinos.
It’s only about fifteen years ago, before I could access the internet, that my local shop was busy most days with racing fans. There were no fobts, no virtual racing. Not sure if there were lotteries in 1998. Racing fans have mostly disappeared even the mugs down to their last 50p have wised up.
One old fella would only bet on the short ones, a fearless gambler he would regularly make a very nice profit clearing a few hundred most weeks. At some point in the last few years his luck dried up completely, his short favs were losing repeatedly and he stopped betting. He blamed the exchanges, I don’t know if he got that right. Generally, racing fans gave up because they were no longer able to pick winners. Their fault? perhaps but is it a coincidence that so many walked away at the same time leaving the shops to the mumblers, the tramps and the hoodies.
Where I used to live there was a largish Corals that did a good trade but not overly so, when I went back that way last week I noticed that they had taken over the local independent shop 50 yards away so now they have 2 shops within 50 yards of each other and not another bookies around for miles.
That can only be for the FOBT’s and if they were banned or restricted then it would be odds on one at least would be closed.
Serious punters and genuine horse racing fans now bet online.
The bookmaker’s shop ( or Turf Accountant as they were once known) is a very different place from those I used to frequent during the past few decades.
I rarely set foot in one these days. They have become a haven for junkies and their obligatory sidekicks – the staffordshire bull terrier – where once upon a time that place was occupied by an old boy perusing the Sporting Life, accompanied by his docile greyhound.
My view ( and hope ) is that we will see fewer and fewer betting shops in our towns and cities in the coming years. To the FOBT addicts, that would be sad news indeed, but to real racing fans, it will be treated with total indifference.
Gambling Only Pays When You're Winning
Although I bet almost entirely online I find betting shops ok. You can usually read the Racing Post, and watch a bit of football if it’s on. Also if you are in a town with a Betfred you can get the 3x concession on lucky 15s at all the competing bookmakers, which you can’t get online.
My view ( and hope ) is that we will see fewer and fewer betting shops in our towns and cities in the coming years. To the FOBT addicts, that would be sad news indeed, but to real racing fans, it will be treated with total indifference.
The problem would be that the hoodies and their Staffs would be roaming the streets if the bookies were closed. I’m sure that local councils would prefer to know where they are, even if they just spend all day watching other people play on the FOBTs.
Furthermore, many "real racing fans" don’t have ATR or RUK at home. Going to the bookies is the only way they can watch racing.
The problem would be that the hoodies and their Staffs would be roaming the streets if the bookies were closed. I’m sure that local councils would prefer to know where they are, even if they just spend all day watching other people play on the FOBTs.
Furthermore, many "real racing fans" don’t have ATR or RUK at home. Going to the bookies is the only way they can watch racing.
What about watching on the exchanges for a modest financial interest?
This bloke walked into a betting shop… last week on the outskirts of my local town that I found myself in on business, and circled the place twice looking for a placepot slip only to be told when I was asked what I was looking for ‘We don’t do them, mate’ By the time I got back to civilisation, it was too late.
Saved myself a few bob as it happens. Thank you Jack Bevan
Our mate Ginge probably thinks that there’s no value in the placepot taking into account the takeout by the bald one, but I’ve Done quite well out of them and do like to feel the cash in my hand rather than a figure on a screen, this is why I sometimes prefer getting down and dirty with the bookie squad rather than doing online with betfair.
I also hate having a late non runner and my fate being chanced on the fave, or in case of joint or co faves highest racecard order
Best to leave one’s selections till as late as possible.True Mr P , you can watch on betfair for free or for 5p depending …go to place market of any race , about 2 mins before the off
back fav to be placed for a fiver …1.46 say ….then put in order to lay it back for same amount , if matched you watch for free , if not you get matched at 1,47 and if placed costs you 5p
The minimum bet to watch a race is a fiver ….it normally becomes available 2/3 minutes before each race
Seems worth it, if the alternative is heading off to local bookies to watch a race
Placepots are a bit of a lottery Mr P , but can be juicy if you get the first fav out of the frame ….good luck with them
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