Corbett Sports marks sponsorship Betting


Betinternet improvement helps boost turnover


While the potential of its US pools betting operations EWS is there for all to see, it is Webis' Betinternet business has been improving.


ANNUAL REPORT W


ebis Holdings, owner of online bookmaker Bet- internet.com, has posted an


eight per cent increase in turnover for the financial year to £113.8m and a five per cent jump in gross profit to £3.18m. Despite this the company still posted a loss of £41,000 but that is a much better figure than the previ- ous year's loss of £110,000. Denham Eke, chairman


of Webis Holdings, said: “Overall, the board is encouraged by the recent improvements in EWS and Betinternet’s trading and believes that both busi- nesses are well-placed to capitalise on the opportuni- ties available in the online gaming market. We plan to continue to invest in product development for both Betinternet and EWS to improve our competitive- ness within each area and anticipate that our turnover growth will continue over the forthcoming year.” EWS, the group’s pari-


mutuel platform, delivered a 'good performance' in the second half following a dif- ficult start to the year and generated turnover for the year of £31 million, com- pared to 2011's figure of £34m. Over the year, average player numbers and volumes wagered both increased through the online platform and call centre, with the majority of these increases coming from 'leisure players'. Further global racing content was added to EWS’ product offering, including access to racetrack betting pools in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Sweden and the UK. Meanwhile Betinternet generated good growth in revenues throughout the financial year and turnover increased to £83m from £71m. Betinternet has expanded its fixed-odds content at a rapid rate and the overall product offering, particularly around football betting where resource has been focused, has been made


extremely competitive. Eke explained: “Our ‘In Play’ content, where odds are offered during live events, has also been strengthened significantly and related revenues accounted for 43 per cent of Betinternet’s annual turnover on single bets, with football, tennis and basket- ball being the predominant ‘In Play’ sports selected by our customers. The ‘In Play’ growth helped total fixed- odds turnover and gross profit increase by 26 per cent and 5 per cent respec- tively over the previous year, an element of which was driven by the World Cup. The majority of this growth continued to origi- nate from the Asian-Pacific region. Casino activity also increased during the finan- cial year; however, this was offset by a reduction in play through the games suite.” Eke added: “It is antici- pated that EWS will launch its new ‘WatchandWa- ger.com’ website in the first half of the new financial


year, which will provide for a significantly better user experience, including live- streaming of race video. For Betinternet, the board has invested in additional sportsbook product through third-party data providers, particularly for ‘In Play’, which represents betinternet’s best growth opportunity. Using a variety of recognised third-party providers remains the oper- ation’s business strategy over the short to medium term. In support of this, we have recently recruited senior industry personnel to lead betinternet's trading, development and marketing functions. The board anticipates that these actions will build on the good growth over the last financial year, help stabilise the fixed-odds margin achieved and enhance the performance of the casinos and games products. The board also plans a further update to the Betinternet website 'look and feel' in the forthcoming year.”


ANALYSIS


The firm also gave an update on the European


Championships,


despite it falling outside the financial year, which covered the 52 week period ending 27 May 2012. The tournament was 'in line with management’s


expectations', although the firm said that its overall margin remains volatile as is current customer demographic has a smaller percentage of ‘leisure players’ than it would prefer, especially within Europe. The board anticipates, however, that the percentage of leisure players will increase as it develops its product further and the


sportsbook marketing strategy for the Betinternet brand is tailored to support this.


Spreadex reports record turnover U


SPREAD BETTING


K online bookmaker Spreadex has reported record turnover of £25.7m and profits before tax of £11.5m from its latest annual financial accounts filed at Companies House. Figures for the year ending May 31, 2012 saw turnover up from £23.2m in the same period a year earlier and profits before tax up from £11m in the previous year. Spreadex range of product financial spread betting, sports spread betting, sports fixed odds betting and casino gaming all from the same account. The company has attributed its growth to


12 BettingBusinessInteractive • OCTOBER 2012


product improvements such as its new online platform, iPhone trading app, mobile sports betting site and 24 hour trading expan- sion together with increasing new client numbers.


Managing director Jonathan Hufford said: “These are a very encouraging set of results particu- larly as there have been challeng- ing economic conditions during this period in the country. Product upgrades have helped us and new customers continue to be attracted by the benefits of spread betting over traditional trading methods, including the fact that


profits are currently free from capital gains tax or stamp duty, the ability to gain leveraged market access and the opportu- nity to profit from falling as well as rising markets.”


Hufford added that the finan- cial product is one that still has a lot of goodwill from the people who use it: “Financial spread betting remains a product that allows private retail client access to commodity markets, world equities, FX and indices all on one platform and growing numbers of investors are appreciating this form of trading.”


JONATHAN HUFFORD: 'CUSTOMERS CONTINUE TO BE ATTRACTED BY THE BENEFITS OF SPREAD BETTING'


Independent bookmaker Corbett Sports launched the second season of its sponsorship of the Welsh Premier League with brand ambassador Ronnie Corbett joining Wales manager Chris Coleman at the launch of the twelve team league in Cardiff. Managing director Michael Corbett commented: “Ronnie added a little star power to the launch of the new season of the Corbett Sports Welsh Premier League.


EURO 2012 WAS 'IN LINE WITH MANAGEMENT'S EXPECTATIONS'


William Hill


launches Priority Prices


MARKETING T he UK's biggest


bookmaker William Hill has dabbled with a new look at the concept of customer loyalty by introducing a betting first with the launch of its brand new Priority Prices. The bookmaker has taken its a proven record for delivering enhanced odds on big events and transformed it into the Priority Prices innovation, which will see William Hill offer punters the opportunity, via a simple registration process, to gain advance notice of standout odds on the biggest sporting events. Whether customers bet with William Hill online, in- shop or via mobile, they will be able to sign-up for advanced alerts, ahead of the rest of the market, on each Priority Price offer. The bookmaker is pushing its social networking channels for this initiative by encouraging customers to register via text,


Facebook or by following a dedicated Twitter feed. Kate Miller,


spokeswoman for William Hill, said: ‘’This is a first for the betting industry where subscribed customers can gain advance notification on enhanced odds ahead of the rest of the gambling community. It’s free to sign- up and we’re committed to only offering industry-best odds. It’s another weapon to add to any punters’ armoury.’’


William Hill only offers a limited number of Priority Prices for each event, but as part of this very special scheme, William Hill will be keeping its customers informed on Priority Prices release dates, number of bets available at that price, as well as regular updates on how many bet numbers remain available. The initiative is very similar to Amazon's Black Friday promotions, where it offered a range of goods at certain prices at certain times with a limited number. The anticipation that arose around the promotions worked as a marketing tool within itself, and William Hill will no doubt be hoping that its Priority Prices will be able to emulate this effect.


ACTION IMAGES/ HENRY BROWNE LIVEPIC


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