Taking terminals as an example of the vibrancy and health of retail, we are going to see a significant
increase in terminal numbers. Brand new hardware types are being introduced into large operators’
estates and sports betting via SSBTs is growing significantly. I do not see this changing and believe it is a positive outlook. I am really
confident that the investment and approach operators are taking will
result in a strong retail core in sports betting for some time to come.
119 of its high street shops will not re-open, after last year stating that it was cutting 700 shops following the reduction in FOBT machine stakes. Do these figures concern you? Does it knock your confidence and optimism in the sustainability of retail betting?
I am still confident. Talking about the number of shop closures and decisions made by operators always gets me a little upset and disappointed. I have always taken a far more positive view of the opportunity of retail betting shops that has been borne out from what we have seen with the majority of operators.
Yes, there is going to be rationalisation and there always will be. I would look at regularly shutting 25-50 shops a year as demographics and markets change, but I would also open similar amounts to capture the demand from new audiences as there are always opportunities out there. If you take those batch of closures to one side from one operator, the market is showing positive signs with operators investing in
concept shops for example. It is an interesting and different approach to retail betting - bigger, shinier stores with new ways of transacting, digital displays, more terminals, phone chargers and better and bigger screens. You have got to give a refreshed look to give customers a better experience on the estate.
Irish operators such as Boyles are also moving into the UK market which is another positive sign. Taking terminals as an example of the vibrancy and health of retail, we are going to see a significant increase in terminal numbers. Brand new hardware types are being introduced into large operators’ estates and sports betting via SSBTs is growing significantly.
I do not see this changing and believe it is a positive outlook. I am really confident that the investment and approach operators are taking will result in a strong retail core in sports betting for some time to come. Te UK government has expressed serious concerns about the lack of people in town and city centres as the appeal of
the high street dwindles. Te younger generation prefer to shop and bet online. Across industries, retail outlets are making store redundancies whilst significantly investing into their online divisions.
Betting shops are closing or not re-opening. Covid-19 has only exacerbated pre-lockdown decreases in footfall and a disinterest in retail offerings. Where do UK licensed betting shops go from here? How can it adapt to survive?
Te question has often been asked – how many more costs can you take out of your model to make betting shops sustainable? However, I think that is the wrong question to ask. You can cut costs, reduce elements and take away some of the luxuries in the retail estate but I think the key is investing smartly to take a bigger share of the combined remaining retail market and reaching the more tech savvy audiences that are used to betting on a smartphone. Tere is still a demand and will continue to be a demand for retail betting on the high street, particularly in
NEWSWIRE / INTERACTIVE / MARKET DATA P27
@Mario Pampel Postproduction.
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