BOS magazine Provided by: MannyBernstein

Eden Bookmakers Austin Carney TVC Bookmakers' Trade Fair CONTENTS ISSUE 211

Page 3 A WORD - OR SEVERAL - OF THANKS Comment BOS Magazine is back. only way we could Now, here we are. And Page 4 It’s been nine months continue as the voice we would like very Eden Bookmakers since the final print of the independent much to state our Page 6 edition, the Novem- bookmaker would be appreciation for the Austin Carney ber/December 2015 to find someone with support of BOS issue, went out, 34 the financial backing Magazine from Page 8 years after its debut. and technological Don Noble/Manny John Bickell Due to the rising costs knowhow we didn’t Bernstein, particularly of printing and possess. Richard Noble and Page 9 postage, the idea had In early July, my Tony Nicholls, along Winning Post baptism of fire been to relaunch as a husband Chris and I with Adam Williams at Cheltenham purely online were invited to Market for his IT expertise. publication sometime Page 10 Rasen racecourse for We’re not in the spring. Some the annual meeting exaggerating when we Moore’s Ascot Masterclass minor setbacks and sponsored by Don say we truly couldn’t Page 12-33 what might be termed Noble Bookmakers. have done it without in modern parlance as TVC Bookmakers’ Trade Fair The subject of the you. ‘logistical challenges’ advertisers future of BOS came up We couldn’t. Thank meant a launch date in casual conversation, Page 20-24 you. kept getting delayed. which led to a TVC Bookmakers’ Trade Fair We couldn’t take it on proposal, followed by MARY PITT Catalogue by ourselves. It was a plan. Editor Page 34 clear to us that the Angus Dalrymple: The Strange Case of the Secret Office Page 36 Gambling Commission news Page 38 Matt Howe reflects on whirlwind year Page 40 Leicester win right result for Wales bookie

Richard Noble and Tony Nicholls on Don Noble Race Day at Market Rasen http://bos.mannybernstein.co.uk BOS Magazine - October 2016 Page 2 Comment

WE’RE BACK. There’s been a lot should be emphasised whenever bookmakers opt to completely get going on in our absence. In August the subject of betting shops in a rid of racing in their shops? it was reported in the Racing Post particular locality comes up, along Doubtful. But scale down or that Boylesports are interested in with cultivating good relationships deemphasise coverage? Maybe. purchasing all 360 (or thereabouts) between local councils and locally BETFRED’S EXCLUSIVITY to run the shops likely to be sold off as a owned and operated betting tote ends on July 12, 2018. From condition of the Ladbrokes – Coral shops. then, anyone can set up a pool merger. The Competition and APRIL 1, 2017 still appears to be betting operation with permission Markets Authority approved the the target date for the levy from the Gambling Commission. merger subject to around 350 to replacement and/or reform, but That date will be here before you 400 shops being unloaded first. there seems to be a decided lack know it, and racing is already Boylesports has stated their of activity on that front. exploring its options as regards intention to buy all the available operating its own tote service. The shops. Even if a levy replacement spells the end of the BHA’s idea of a racing operated tote has Wouldn’t it be better if at Authorised Betting Partner policy, already been proposed, with least some of those shops were the ramifications are still likely to betting shops and online offered to small independent reverberate for some time. bookmakers seen as key players in chains or individual operators? Bookmakers are turning to other providing the distribution. Exotic This very idea was suggested by sports, such as darts, snooker and wagers are seen as instrumental to Star Sports supremo Ben Keith in football, for sponsorship deals. To any tote success, with the concept his blog post at the end of May. pile on the clichés, racing just of a big win for a small outlay likely Cities and towns are might find it has not only shot to appeal to casual punters and continually discussing how to itself in the foot and is missing the customers more used to playing revive their high streets and how boat, but they may see their the lottery. to encourage more small local sponsorship opportunities sail It would need most, if not independent businesses to fill their away over the horizon and never all, racecourses and a large vacant shop fronts. Why shouldn’t come back. segment of the betting industry to this include independent ACCORDING TO Bill Barber’s cooperate to make it a success. bookmakers? column in the Racing Post back on Consolidation will be vital in order So many times we’ve gone May 19, betting shop picture rights to provide enough liquidity to into small independent betting payments have become the largest make the operation viable and shops and found a real community single income source for British competitive, and also to share the atmosphere, with staff who know racing from the betting industry. technology and implementation their customers well and look after The government has said it would costs. The involvement of and them, to the point of enquiring take media rights payments into costs to independent operators when they don’t see them in the consideration when setting the must also be taken into shop on a regular basis, or even rate for the proposed levy consideration. visiting them if they’re in hospital. replacement. Costs to bookmakers continue to escalate, so could It’s this social aspect that Mary Pitt

http://bos.mannybernstein.co.uk BOS Magazine - October 2016 Page 3 Eden Bookmakers’ Fleet of Shops by Chris Pitt

THERE’S A ‘to do’ list on the back of roughly 80 per cent ‘regulars’, wall of the counter at Eden rather than passing trade. Competi- Bookmakers’ shop in Fleet. It tion within the town comes from a encompasses all the small but vital nearby Coral shop and a Betfred jobs that need to be done before further along the high street. opening for business, such as making Concessions offered include sure betting slips and pens are out, treble the odds Lucky 15s, double putting up newspapers, and cleaning result, guaranteed odds and FOBT machine screens each rounding up forecasts and tricasts. morning. “We do a lot, we always John Eden would have compete,” says Mark of their offers. recognised the first two of those “Our opening hours vary from shop when establishing the firm in 1969, to shop. The earliest we open but he’d have been scratching his anywhere is nine and the latest we head over the third item. “What’s a close is nine-thirty. We’re shut on FOBT?” he may have queried. Mark Eden Sunday evenings.” Sadly, John passed away in Blockbuster Video shop. Late last year Eden 1993, several years before FOBTs Mark, 52, deals with the Bookmakers signed a four-year made their betting shop debut. The accounts while Chris, 47, handles the agreement with SG Gaming as its business is now run by his sons Mark staffing side. The brothers came into sole machine provider, replacing and Chris Eden. Their mother Carole, the business via widely differing Eden’s previous supplier. Mark has John’s widow, the matriarch of the routes. nothing but praise for their new organisation, is now retired but When Mark left school he supplier, commenting that he’s been remains a partner in the business. served an apprenticeship as a test “massively pleased” with the John Eden worked for technician with electronics firm arrangement. accountants Price Waterhouse Racal. Having spent six weeks “SG Gaming had all the staff before leaving and joining the working in the factory, he decided it in, trained us on the machines, and William Hill organisation. When Hills wasn’t for him and went into the we’ve had loads of promotions. The gave him a ‘take it or leave it’ choice family’s betting shop business. service is good and you can rely on of travelling around the country Chris’s apprenticeship was of them,” he says. opening new shops; he opted to a very different type. He went to the Eden are equally enthusiastic leave it. After a short spell in British Racing School and joined Paul members of the Bookmakers supermarket cleaning he acquired a Kelleway’s Newmarket stable with Technology Consortium. “It’s well shop owned by independent aspirations of becoming a jockey but worth it,” affirms Mark. “It saves you bookmaker York’s in Sandhurst. He weight got the better of him. He money – it’s worth the amount of eventually obtained a second shop, then spent a year in Australia, came money you save just on football in the Hampshire village of Hartley back and joined the family firm. coupons alone – and the actual Wintney, some five miles to the Chris’s horseracing ambitions system is better, cheaper and more west of Fleet. had been fuelled by their elder up-to-date.” At the time of John’s death, brother Grant Eden, now 56, who They are, however, keeping a Eden Bookmakers comprised just was formerly a trainer in Newmarket watching brief with regard to the those two premises but there has but suffered serious injuries in a car BTC’s recent ground-breaking media been a gradual expansion over the crash that kept him out of the sport rights deal with The Racing years to the point where their for a few years. Happily, he is now Partnership, which will see pictures portfolio now stands at eight, having back in racing, being a member of from TRP’s 22 racecourses shown added shops in Fleet, Cowley, West Roger Charlton’s training operation throughout the UK and Ireland. Drayton, Bracknell and two in at Beckhampton. “We’ll wait and see,” says Mark. Aldershot. Eden Bookmakers’ head “We definitely pay too much for The original Sandhurst shop office is at the Fleet shop, which is pictures but it seems as though is long gone; it’s now on its third now pretty much their sole high we’re just replacing one provider location within the town, in a former street premises. Its clientele consists with another.

http://bos.mannybernstein.co.uk BOS Magazine - October 2016 Page 4 the (British) racing opposed to racing fans, whereas they’ve got is poor, Hartley Wintney is a place where although the Irish people go to retire so they’re racing is generally all racing fans. We’ve got a competitive. good mix; it’s actually quite healthy “The main point is for the business.” that we as Other items on the Fleet independents pay shop’s ‘to do’ list include all exclusive prices for customers to be offered tea and the racing pictures coffee, football coupons to be when they’re not downloaded and all manual bets to exclusive; it’s given be settled as soon as possible. away free on telly.” Again, John Eden may have Interior of Fleet shop The percentage of furrowed his brow about providing “We’ve got BT Sport, Turf TV and SIS FOBT or over the counter trade free refreshments and wondered in all the shops. When we took Turf depends on the location of the shop, what exactly ‘downloading’ meant. TV we were one of the first to do so. Mark reflects. “The more And as for settling all manual bets, If Turf TV had had the dogs, there retail-orientated the shop, the more aren’t they, he might have mused, was a possibility that at some stage people you’ll get on the machines, the only kind there is? we’d have switched off SIS because because it’s mostly shoppers as 500 shops sign up for new TV channel

The Racing Partnership (TRP) has Worcester). Coverage from independent sector. With more secured its first retail media rights Fakenham, Hexham and Towcester fixtures, better field sizes and quality deal with betting shops. The will be added to the schedule from of product, The Racing Partnership is ground-breaking deal was initiated May 2017, with 13 more already demonstrating its between TRP and the Bookmakers racecourses added from January commitment to delivering a product Technology Consortium (BTC) but 2018. of value to the retail sector.” contracts signed to date come from This schedule of content BTC Director Howard Chisholm said: right across the independent sector equates to around 650 fixtures per “It has been a real positive for in the UK and Ireland. BTC year with TRP’s racecourse independent bookmakers to be represents over 450 independent members making up 40 per cent of consulted before a channel begins LBOs including JenningsBet, Stan UK horseracing fixtures. With the operation. TRP will be for James and Corbetts. South African content the TRP TV independents and we in BTC intend This deal is the first time that the channel will show almost 1,100 to work with the channel to ensure horseracing industry has sold its fixtures per year. it provides content relevant to media rights directly to the retail Beyond the LBO environment all independent operators on both bookmaking industry. racing will continue to be aired via sides of the Irish Sea." The deal will see pictures from TRP’s media partner At The Races. JenningsBet’s Joint Managing the 22 racecourse that are part of ARC’s Director of Media Director Julian Knight said: “As an TRP shown throughout the UK and Technology and Production and independent LBO operator with 100 Ireland. Subscribers began receiving Director of The Racing Partnership, shops, competing in an ever more racing from South Africa, via the TRP Mark Kingston said: “We have challenging marketplace, it is TV Channel, from listened to independent bookmakers essential that we plan effectively for 1 September. From the start of and put together a proposal for a the future. The agreement with The 2017, the TRP service will provide new service. Based on the speed Racing Partnership gives us clarity, pictures, commentary and data from and level of uptake, it is clear that certainty and collaboration relating all of the racecourses previously we have been able to come up with to content which is absolutely owned by Arena Leisure (Doncaster, an offer that meets their require- essential for our business.” Lingfield Park, Royal Windsor, ments and provides a clear and Southwell, Wolverhampton, and transparent way forward for the http://bos.mannybernstein.co.uk BOS Magazine - October 2016 Page 5 Profile: Austin Carney and administrative experience, dealing my responsibilities lay with the with customers. Eventually when you development, commercial and were 18, 19 you were moved into the marketing side. We had a good skill set retail side. between us and I think that enabled the “When I was 21 I got a business to prosper.” bookmaker’s licence and stood for The rebranding to Pagebet myself with a friend, Darren Lord. We came about with the advent of online stood at the local greyhound tracks and gaming. “We were late entering the that gave me extra income although it market because we had been investing was quite a tough grounding. At the all of our funds into retail, however we time it was the ‘dead man’s shoes’ did two or three really good deals to situation with the racetracks until they launch the brand with deals to be changed the legislation a number of Sunderland Football Club’s first online years later,” Austin relates. betting partner, and a partnership with He was given the opportunity to Newcastle Falcons for example. We’d purchase the Reuben Page chain, then a got some good links in and around sport group of six shops located in Consett, at in the region as well as a great the age of 25 in 1989. “A couple of relationship with the local press. friends at the time were keen to get “We were just starting to look into the betting industry, one of whom, to rebrand Reuben Page to Pagebet AUSTIN CARNEY ISN’T one to let the Ian Pearson, had a milk business, and because it was an easier name to use as grass grow under his feet. After a career David Archer, who wasn’t in the an online brand. I wanted to keep spent in bookmaking, he refers to industry.” Reuben Page as the retail brand and himself these days as ‘retired’, but The move was a good one, the Pagebet.com as an online brand. There that’s a misnomer if ever there was chain growing from six shops to 58, and was I suppose a mild disagreement in one. employing 350 people. “I’d like to think that David wanted Pagebet across the Northeast born and bred, from I played a hand in that,” Austin says. board.” a small town between Durham and “The other two guys had no experience Betfair heralded the escalating Sunderland, he has been in bookmaking of the industry, obviously that was popularity of betting exchanges, and at since leaving school at age 16 and garnered over time. We had a few the same time costs to shops were on joining the well-known things we did which were highly the increase. “We took a decision which Sunderland-based firm Gus Carter Ltd. successful. We were only the second subsequently proved to be correct to “The company grew in size and company in the UK to take bets with sell the business to Gala Coral,” he fortunately I grew in experience with debit cards. We had an excellent explains. “It was a very good deal I’m the company,” he remembers. “You relationship with the Racing Post who at sure for all parties at the time. worked in the head office, they still had the time were in a very competitive “We’d started to explore an the last remnants of bookie’s runners so situation with the Sporting Life as they exit, but we wanted to stay within the you learned to settle bets by opening were the new kid on the block. business. So we took the decision to sell the clock bags. People in the industry “We eventually took the the company, Reuben Page, Ltd. We had to be fairly numerate.” decision to focus on shops because at ended up offloading 45 of the 59 shops He also used to work at the time some of the walls were coming to Coral and retained 14 and at that greyhound tracks on the evenings, “just down. Televised racing was able to be point I also semi left the business, getting experience,” he recalls. “With transmitted into shops. After that came leaving David to run it. Gus Carter, I graduated to betting on AWP machines, shop windows, taxation “I’d been in the betting industry the racecourse. I worked with the changes. All of those created from 16 so I was probably ready for a owner’s sons and when the owner opportunities and we were as little bit of a rest. David was able to run passed away and his sons took over I aggressive as we could be as we didn’t the business as he saw fit and I stepped then became part of the regular come from a wealthy financial back into the shadows and just did a racecourse team.” The company had background. We were just self-funded very small part-time role. pitches in the north of England as far so rather than paying ourselves large “Within 18 months, we actually down as Southwell, and on the rails in wages we preferred to put money back sold the business again in a sense Scotland. into the business. because we sold 45 per cent for a “Running parallel with that, I “Ian left the business after a considerable sum. The new business gained more experience taking bets on few years, leaving myself and David. continued to expand but David and the telephone side of the business and David looked after a lot of the myself subsequently had a parting of that manifested itself into getting office administration and finance side, whilst the ways. Further down the line the http://bos.mannybernstein.co.uk BOS Magazine - October 2016 Page 6 by Mary Pitt venture capitalists maybe had a “When you look disagreement with David, and I came at return on capital in- back into it until the business was taken vested through what on by Stan James. Rufus and Harbro Electri- “Steve Fisher asked me to stay cal are doing, there are on as a consultant, which I did, and I ways of looking at your was delighted to help Steve and his business and at how you team working with some great people can save money by in- including Euan McCormick, and Ian vesting in new technology Blackburn who were retained from like LED lighting. In some Pagebet, and formed a key part of the cases, they’re getting management team.” He remained a their money back within a consultant to Stan James until 2014. year.” Currently, he owns part of The wheels in the design company Rufus, based in Carney brain obviously Sunderland and headed by Ian Wright. hardly ever take a sab- “It has been very successful doing great batical. He continues: “On value shop refurbishment. Ian is a very my football stadium creative guy. Utilising their skills and my we’ve got a plant where Austin with Richard Noble of Don Noble Betting industry knowledge we’ve been able to we produce 40-foot by do a lot of work for great guys like eight-foot shipping containers. I think it on at such a pace that it’s become a Richard Noble of Don Noble, Roy was Will Roseff who had the idea many tough world out there for traditional Holbrook of Winning Post, George years ago of a mobile caravan-style bookmakers, but I think the ones that Carragill, Pridmores, Manny Cook, and betting shop. You could very easily fit are fit and lean still have a part to play.” Corbetts amongst others.” out these boxes and just drop them an- Not just in Britain, he notes. He’s also involved in a number ywhere. It’s very inexpensive and, if it “There’s no doubt there are some fan- of sports businesses. “We have a foot- doesn’t work, pick it up and take it tastic opportunities overseas but, like ball stadium in Durham which hosts somewhere else. That would be one everywhere, legislation, licensing and Durham Ladies, who are in the way of introducing a low-cost entry, how stable different countries and envi- Women’s FA Premier League Division maybe predominantly sports focused, ronments are do play a part in that. One One. We host the biggest youth league for bookmakers. thing you can say is that in the UK in the country on a Saturday morning “I think the industry will always betting is very highly regarded and re- with a thousand kids and parents trying continue to evolve, but we should never spected and well-regulated and that to impress the scouts from the North forget, machines are one thing, but should always keep us at the forefront.” East big three. We have an indoor foot- people are another, and you can’t beat He adds one caveat: “Racing ball centre, Soccarena, and Infinite Air, having some money in your pocket, needs to be more realistic with some of a trampoline park.” He has also worked having a financial interest in whatever it the charges they’re looking to put on recently with Durham County Cricket is, a sporting or racing event, then pick- the bookmakers, because it’s a decreas- Club in offering great value sponsorship ing up your winnings. People still like to ing market. It’s not because bookmak- and commercial opportunities, bet in cash, still like to receive cash and ers don’t like racing. If the charges keep including helping find a betting partner still like the atmosphere of a betting going up, what happens is, the number and shirt sponsors. shop. of betting shops, the number of book- “I was involved with Optima “That’s why Royal Ascot, Chel- makers continues to reduce.” and the Margin Maker product for six tenham, large football matches, Grand As for his own role, he states: “I months, successfully launching Prix, the British Open, all these top still retain a huge passion for the awareness of the company in the UK. events are always well supported, peo- betting industry but obviously you’re That was a good experience as well,” he ple make a real day of it, and I think only able to be as involved as opportu- adds. that’s where bookmakers can still play a nities present themselves. Racing, the “Another area where I’ve been part. They can get involved in the betting industry and sport in general involved is that a good friend of mine events, they can offer mobile betting have given me a lot over the years, and has one of the biggest electrical facilities, actual physical facilities to I still think I’ve got a fair bit to offer wholesalers in the north of England, place bets. There’s a real opportunity within the industry Harbro Electrical. He’s very LED with sports venues across the board. “I’m still around, but I’m not as focused. I’ve been able to help a “In retail, with costs going up, busy as I used to be.” number of friends in the industry with margins are very tight, it’s a very diffi- It’s a good bet that he won’t be the installation of LED lighting cult environment. Technology is moving idle for long. http://bos.mannybernstein.co.uk BOS Magazine - October 2016 Page 7 John Bickell of Town & Country

JOHN BICKELL, founder of I betting shops were legalised he ndependent firm Town & Country bought four shops in Burnt Oak, Bookmakers, died in July aged 67, Edgware, Collindale and Chingford, having never fully recovered from a trading under the name of Sydes and severe brain haemorrhage in the Fowle. John’s mother became a aftermath of a road accident in cashier, while his grandfather and 2015. aunt were part-time managers. John had been in John initially worked in a bookmaking almost all his working solicitor’s office, but it was merely a life and, as Warwick Bartlett, chief way of marking time until he was 18 executive and founder of Global and old enough to be legally Betting & Gaming Consultancy, employed in a betting office. He recalled, was the man who came up joined City Tote (which evolved into with an innovation that “saved the Mecca Bookmakers and later industry” and developed into an William Hill) as a board marker and everyday staple betting shop worked his way up the ladder, product. becoming a business development His idea arose following the manager for William Hill in charge of introduction of the National Lottery. 120 shops in south-east London and With the government refusing to Kent. allow side betting on the National He eventually set up as an Lottery, it was John who suggested independent bookmaker, going into taking bets on the Irish Lottery. business with a partner, John The funeral took place on “At the time it sounded Mayne, in a shop on Wembley High August 5 at Worthing Crematorium, unlikely,” Warwick told the Racing Street. Mayne’s interest in the Findon, in West Sussex. Those Post’s Jim Cremin. “The Irish Lottery business was later bought out by present included Sports was not televised; punters would not Barry Fulton of Sports Bookmakers. Bookmakers’ Barry Fulton and Mo see the results. Why would you bet Meanwhile, John had Charge, Steve Fisher of Stan James, on something without seeing the acquired another shop, one of former Hills/Mecca colleagues Terry outcome? The industry was so several that he was to buy and sell Probert, Gordon Oliver, John desperate we’d have tried anything. over the ensuing years, locations Watkins and John Quinn, George It proved a major success. From it including West Acton, Willesden, Moakes of Roar (and formerly Don followed 49s and then the virtual Northwood Hills and Hounslow. Bruce) and Jim Cremin, representing products. Since selling his Hounslow the Racing Post's Betting Shop “John was a kind and shop to Stan James in April 2011, the Display user committee of which considerate gentleman who had the West Acton premises became the John was a valued contributor. courage to speak out at a meeting of only one trading under the Town & Also present were many of 200 bookmakers who all thought, as Country banner. John’s Town & Country employees I did at the time, that it was a crazy Long-standing friend and including John Powell, a manager in idea. He saved the industry, he really associate Mo Charge of Sports the early days at the Wembley did.” Bookmakers was one of many to pay branch, Julie Mayes and Lorraine Born in Hackney in 1949, tribute: “He was a good hearted kind Maderia, manager and cashier John’s family moved to Leyton and man who had the patience levels of respectively of the Harrow & Weald then to Islington where his father a saint. His achievements for the branch, Marcus Price, former became landlord of the Duke of York bookmaking industry as a whole manager of the Northwood Hills in Downham Road. were top drawer and this was shop, plus Marcel Mavronicholas, an John’s route into the mirrored in the support his golf day on-course rep who enjoyed passing world of betting shops was guided attracted last year. the time with John initially by his grandfather, whose “He was one that I would John is survived by his wife brother was a bookmaker in Hoxton always ask about the retail side of Lorraine, children John junior and in the East End of London before our business as my respect for him Fay, and grandchildren Leighton, betting shops were licensed. When held no bounds.” Riley and Elizabeth. http://bos.mannybernstein.co.uk BOS Magazine - October 2016 Page 8 Winning Post’s baptism of fire at Cheltenham BRISTOL-BASED independent was a baptism of fire we are and the rest of his staff who have Winning Post, who in June 2014 took thoroughly enjoying being there and always looked after us and helped over Ascot’s ground-floor betting have had good support from Dickon with any problems that may arise. shop formerly run by Ladbrokes, this White and David Mackinnon behind “At Ascot we are also the year added Cheltenham to its the scenes. We enjoy being a small official bookmaker to the Shergar racecourse portfolio. part at these major venues and the Cup competition which has been It was a case of all hands on raised profile this brings to Winning great fun. Apart from the royal board as Winning Post had been Post. meeting, Champions Day would be appointed to take over at “All the staff enjoy going to our busiest day during the season. Cheltenham little more than a week work at these events so we have to “Since we took on Ascot and before the biggest betting event in rotate to accommodate them. But Cheltenham we have had a bit of a the jump racing calendar, following they also know that the day’s work helter-skelter ride with the results at Ladbrokes’ late departure due to is fast and furious and not all fun. the big meetings, but they’re conflicts with the authorised betting We are now in our third year at beginning to even out so we’re partner (ABP) arrangement Ascot and cannot speak too highly of confident of a better end to 2016.” introduced last autumn. the team there of Alastair Warwick “We actually had to rebuild the shop in the Centaur from scratch after Ladbrokes vacated,” reported Winning Post’s boss Roy Holbrook. “As we only had eight days until the start of the festival, we had to work late several nights overseeing work by carpenters, electricians and computer installers to get our 12-till system installed on time. “We had great support from Howard Chisholm and the BTC to get all the tills set up for the first day’s business. Unfortunately, the meeting didn’t go too well with all the short priced ‘good things’ winning during the festival. “Even though Cheltenham SIS bolsters senior leadership team SIS has appointed Mike Jones as and Alstom. He joins the company invaluable at an exciting time for the Director of Software Engineering from his latest role at Sony company when SIS is rolling out a following a successful interim PlayStation. number of innovative products to period. Working closely with SIS teams in both the retail and online betting In his newly created role, Jones is London and Salford, Jones will be markets.” responsible for driving based at SIS’ headquarters in Milton Mike Jones said: “I’m delighted to be transformation in the way that SIS Keynes. joining such a forward-thinking, truly produces software to underpin SIS’ SIS Chief Executive Gary Smith innovative company that boasts a diversifying and innovative product welcomed Jones to the company rich heritage in the industry. I’ve had offering. and said he was eager to see him the good fortune to have sight of the Jones’ career in software apply his many years’ experience in innovative range of SIS products and development spans more than 30 the field to help the diversification of services that are soon to be released years, including experience with SIS’ product suite. and I can’t wait to help them be the major brands such as London He added: “Mike’s wealth of best they can be.” Underground, Barclays, Logica, ABB experience within software will be http://bos.mannybernstein.co.uk BOS Magazine - October 2016 Page 9 Moore’s Ascot Masterclass

A masterful ride from Ryan Moore resulted in 13/8 favourite Highland Reel winning the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes from Wings Of Desire (Frankie Dettori) at Ascot on July 23. Moore took Highland Reel straight to the front, setting a steady pace before giving his mount a breather around halfway. He kicked on again entering the straight and always had enough in reserve to repel the challenge of Wings Of Desire by a length and a quarter. It was a second King George win for Moore and a fourth for trainer Aidan O’Brien.

Picture: Mary Pitt SIS Stream rolls out in Sri Lanka

SIS has broken new ground by The deal marks the first time the regions traditionally unreachable via bringing the company’s innovative flexible SIS Stream platform will be other distribution methods.” SIS Stream platform to Sri Lanka for utilised in Sri Lanka, and continues a A spokesperson from Sporting Times the first time. two decade-long relationship added: “We have been happy Launched with major operator between the two companies which customers of SIS for over 20 years Sporting Times, the deal will allow began with satellite distribution in and we’re delighted to start a new for customisable high definition the early 1990s. chapter in our relationship. We can content to be shown in shops SIS Commercial Director Paul Witten now offer even more content to our through SIS’ low latency IPTV said: “We’re delighted to be able to customers thanks to SIS’ innovative streaming network. bring SIS Stream to Sri Lanka for the streaming platform. It’s a real game In addition to SIS’ own IPTV first time through our long-term changer.” channels, the flexible and fully partners Sporting Times. SIS Stream IPTV also offers scalable SIS Stream platform allows “Our flexible, low latency IPTV operators the ability to tailor their Sporting Times to distribute third service allows operators to offer content to specific regions, shops party content to their retail estate. shop content globally, even to and even screens. http://bos.mannybernstein.co.uk BOS Magazine - October 2016 Page 10

Welcome to the TVC Bookmakers’ Trade Fair 2016

IN 2015, after long-term As the only show aimed at visitors alike, therefore we involvement with the Bookmakers’ the independent bookmaker sector, re-booked the same location for the Trade Fair, organised by BOS the industry can come together and TVC Bookmakers’ Trade Fair 2016. magazine, TVC took on the see all the latest products and Cranmore Park is a purpose-built responsibility of organising and technology at one dedicated event. exhibition centre centrally located in hosting the show. We were keen to The face of the betting and the UK, with restaurant facilities and build on the success from previous gaming industry is constantly up to 100 MBPS internet speed, years, whilst maintaining the event’s changing with the increase of online which is ideal for our industry essence and tradition. services, digital signage and partners. That essence and tradition of analytical solutions, mobile and Following the show there will the Bookmakers’ Trade Fair was very tablet and ever-changing software be a further opportunity for important to us and regardless of solutions. It is for the independent networking and after listening to changes made to the event, we bookmakers to keep up-to-date with feedback from the previous event, were very conscious of retaining the the latest technology solutions this will be held at a more local feel and atmosphere of the Trade The TVC Bookmakers’ Trade venue allowing as many people as Fair whilst introducing new products Fair attracts a range of possible to attend. and software solutions. Our aim was stand-holders, ranging from This year’s networking event to demonstrate that our partners suppliers of software systems, will be held in a private function and exhibitors can provide the screens, gaming machines and room at the Walkabout Bar and Grill betting and gaming industry with terminals to furniture, security and in Solihull. Starting at 5.30pm the solutions that redefine, enhance and printing services, from regulatory networking will provide a further increase productivity and body the Gambling Commission to opportunity to catch up with both profitability for their business. industry organisations IBAS, potential customers and exhibitors The TVC Trade Fair 2015 GAMCARE and the ABB. from the day event. proved to be very successful with This year we will be The private function room is exhibitors and delegates alike welcoming back a large number of equipped with a private bar and a commenting favourably. This was previous exhibitors along with a buffet selection of hot food will be backed by an 8 per cent increase in variety of new stands for 2016. supplied. Bookmakers can meet visitors on the previous year. Although TVC are heavily involved in with their industry peers and The TVC Bookmakers’ Trade the organisation of the TVC exchange success stories and catch Fair is one of the only exhibitions Bookmakers’ Trade Fair we also up with old friends. available to the betting industry and have our very own TVC exhibition The show is free to attend the only one aimed specifically at showcasing a wide range of the and, if you have not yet done so, the independent bookmaker. If a latest technology solutions available you can register for your event pass supplier has a new product he wants to the independent bookmaker. at www.tvcevents.co.uk to showcase, or if a legislative body Last year’s venue, Cranmore has new information to broadcast, Park, located on the outskirts of or even if it is to check out what the Andy Greaves - Birmingham, received positive Head of Commercial Sales competition is doing, then this is a feedback from both exhibitors and great opportunity to do so.

http://bos.mannybernstein.co.uk BOS Magazine - October 2016 Page 13

BTC explains reasons for supporting TRP

THE BOOKMAKERS TECHNOLOGY Indeed, as we have recently learned, Board does not agree to the terms CONSORTIUM will once again be the content that is bundled on offered then the content will not be taking a stand at the Bookmakers’ FACTS is agreed with the majors and added. This is a new way of Trade Fair in Solihull. then forced on us to spread the cost operating and is already proving “It’s an important event in over more shops, effectively getting very productive.” the independent bookmakers’ the independent sector to subsidise We wondered how the TRP calendar and we need to be there to the majors. Turf TV have always had channel would be supported meet people and talk through the a charging structure which favours in-shop. Howard replied “BTC are services we provide,” explained the large chains – ironic since those ready to support the TRP channel Howard Chisholm, a director of BTC. large chains operate the most profit- and have the data feed available for “The stand will not be as large as in able shops which can afford to pay both EPOS and screen systems. We past years but we aim to showcase more than the small bookmaker – so will be displaying the betting on the the new services that we are now the independent sector is at a BTC screen system for all TRP offering.” significant commercial disadvantage content – individual bookmakers BTC were heavily involved in to the major bookmakers.” should check with their suppliers to discussions with Arena Racing HOW WILL INDEPENDENTS ensure this is the case in their shops. Company before the announcement COPE with yet another channel? BTC will also be making arrangement of the setting up of The Racing “At the moment it appears to supply an in-shop audio mixing Partnership channel (TRP). We asked that Turf TV will cease in April 2018, solution to ensure the best possible Howard to explain the motives so there will only be a third racing presentation of the content behind the BTC supporting this new channel for around 18 months. available in each shop.” channel when UK horseracing is Independent bookmakers are now OBVIOUSLY, TRP HAS BEEN the already split across two channels very familiar with having multiple focus of the BTC’s efforts during the and, to an uninformed observer, a video channels in their shops; SIS past couple of months, but what third would seem excessive. FACTS, SIS+, Turf TV, SKY, BTsport, about the other developments of “There are some very good virtual channels and freeview are note that BTC were progressing? reasons why BTC supported the new now available to some extent in all “We are in the final testing channel for independents that ARC betting shops. Indeed, many shops phase of a virtual product which we is setting up.” Howard explained. “At are already running with three have developed with Inspired the moment the four major racing channels, FACTS, SIS+ and Gaming and which we will have on bookmakers have their own Turf TV, so the addition of another display at the Bookmakers Trade channels and can determine what channel is not a problem. The major Fair,” Howard responded. “This is a content they carry and can mix difficulty is the control of audio in multiple channel system which content from different suppliers in a the shops and there are technical allows an independent bookmaker unified manner. This is not the case solutions to this which allow the to provide Bingo on a single channel with the independent sector. mixing of audio from three or more and virtual racing on another. All Independents must take two sources into a single output.” bets are accepted through the channels, SIS FACTS and Turf TV, and WE ASKED HOWARD to explain standard tills and no separate back can not mix these into one channel – the difference between TRP and the office is required. We have designed we do not have the studio capability incumbent channels. a marksense betting slip for the and both suppliers have made it “The major difference is that Bingo which makes taking bets quick very clear in the past that they are independent bookmakers, via the and efficient.” unwilling to allow a group of BTC, are dealing directly with the BTC WILL BE DEMOSTRATING independent bookmakers to mix racecourses, the suppliers of the a customer WiFi solution at the their content in a unified service. content. There are no middle men to Bookmakers’ Trade Fair. We asked “But it is even worse than take a margin or take decisions on Howard how this works. that, for not only must we take the our behalf without consultation. BTC “BTC have become two separate channels, we have no have an agreement with ARC authorised resellers for Purple WiFi, influence whatsoever over the whereby they will consult with the the leading supplier of guest WiFi content which is carried on those BTC Board before any new content services. As resellers we are able to channels or the cost of that content. is added to the service, if the BTC provide solutions at considerable http://bos.mannybernstein.co.uk BOS Magazine - October 2016 Page 15 discount to the standard retail price. complete a simple sign on form. FINALLY, IT’S WORTH NOTING that The system involves installing a There is a portal for the bookmaker both David Pluck Bookmakers and secure ‘Access Point’ in the betting to then get reports on usage of the Stan James UK shops have both shop which then allows customers system. The BTC Purple WiFi system recently taken up the BTC data feed access to the internet – but in a very is a very cost effective way to and now over 500 shops in the UK controlled way. Customers can sign engage with the next generation of are taking services from BTC. That’s in using their Facebook, Twitter and customers.” around two thirds of the other social media accounts or independent sector. SG Gaming confirms Corbett contract extension

SG Gaming has been awarded a four Corbett shop can unlock the full instrumental to the success of this -year contract extension with potential of the new terminals. partnership.” Corbett Bookmakers after a long Commenting on the On the decision to extend the and successful, mutually-beneficial announcement, Phil Horne, Chief deal, Michael Corbett, Managing relationship with the independent Executive Officer of SG Gaming, Director of Corbett Bookmakers, bookmaker. said: “We are thrilled Corbett has commented, “The innovative HD Under the agreement, SG decided to extend their contract Infinity terminal, operational, Gaming’s field-based engineering with us, securing our partnership for training and account support SG team upgraded 103 terminals in 27 another four years. The new Gaming provides are pivotal to our shops over a period of six weeks in terminal upgrade combined with gaming machine business and are June and July with the company’s our great content enables the key drivers behind our decision to HD Infinity terminal, bringing the Corbett estate to benefit from SG extend. total number of Infinity terminals to Gaming’s full service offering. “As our sole machine supplier, 203 across Corbett Bookmakers’ “Our relationship with Corbett we look forward to working with SG 53-shop estate. has been a huge success, with this Gaming to grow our partnership As part of the agreement, extension bringing our work over the next four years and Corbett Bookmakers will also together to more than 10 years. together focusing on continuing to benefit from training, marketing “SG Gaming created a tailored help drive our gaming machine and operational support provided offer of terminals, content and performance.” by SG Gaming’s account support for the independent LBO management team, ensuring each sector and this has been Tempobet strikes Burton Albion sponsorship deal

Tempobet has signed a deal to Tempobet managing director Mark and we are delighted to have signed become the principal partner and Clayton said: “We’re delighted to up to the biggest sponsorship deal shirt sponsor of Burton Albion partner with Burton Albion, a in Burton Albion’s history with Football Club for the 2016/17 progressive club who match our Tempobet. season. ambitions to challenge on the big “I am also delighted that Tempobet The deal, which is the biggest in the stage. has agreed that our charity, Burton club’s 66-year history, sees the “English football is a pivotal part of Albion Community Trust, will online sportsbook’s logo adorn the our business and our agreement feature on the shirts of our junior first team shirt in their debut season with Burton gives us with a great fans, which will highlight the in the English Championship. platform to present our products to amazing work BACT does, especially Adult supporters’ shirts will also a wider audience.” with young people. carry the Tempobet branding, whilst Burton Albion commercial director, “I’m sure that our partnership with those worn by junior fans will Fleur Robinson, said: “It was very Tempobet will be a major benefit to feature the Burton Albion important for us to find the right both parties and we look forward to Community Trust in the sponsor’s sponsorship deal at this key working with them over the course position. moment in the club’s development of the 2016/2017 season.” http://bos.mannybernstein.co.uk BOS Magazine - October 2016 Page 16

2DB in the Clouds Never ones to let the grass grow add new features and content – revolutionise the general under their feet, it looks like 2016 which of course we’re happy to do. maintenance of our systems in shops has been another year of develop- The financial constraints on and substantially reduce the number ment and change for the guys at operating betting shops seem to be of on-site support visits needed to 2DB. ever-increasing and we see it as an sustain an estate of our systems over “You would think that not much ever important part of the service we give their entire product lifetime.” happens in the world of display to ensure that our customers The 2DB stand is sure to be popular systems,” commented Craig Stock, continue to get the best possible at this year’s Bookmakers’ Trade one of the directors responsible for value from their Genus systems. Fair. Says Craig: “The Bookmakers’ the company’s renowned Genus “This year we’ve also focussed a lot Trade Fair is something that we’re display system product, “but we of our R&D effort on successfully always keen to support, although we seem to be perpetually busy devel- integrating IPTV into Genus. In fact, tend to regard it as the primary we recently launched a new product oping new products and improving networking event of the year that’s called Genus Cloud specifically the existing ones. designed to integrate a variety of live specific to the UK betting industry. “Most significantly, this year has TV streams and supporting ‘text For us, it’s not really a sales seen a steady progression of pages’ into one or more fully opportunity and in our experience customers moving their Genus controllable compact single-screen virtually no-one is there with a displays. Genus Cloud is currently Central Site operations out of their specific purchasing decision in mind. targeted at the international market, head offices and into the Cloud. In where satellite-based TV channels Most visitors are simply browsing to fact, we now have only a handful of for betting shops are far less see if anything grabs their attention. customers left who host their own prevalent than in the UK, but you Having said that, exhibiting at last Genus servers on-site. Of course, never know what will happen in the year’s show did pay dividends as it future – dish and decoder costs are Cloud hosting is not necessarily the eventually led to the sale of over a prohibitive and they’re inconvenient right solution for all customers, but it to install, so if a new subscription hundred Genus systems to a new certainly seems to work for the IPTV channel does ever emerge in customer based in Asia, but with majority, especially the smaller the UK then we have the perfect low strong connections to the UK organisations who rely on the many -cost product to go with it. industry. This was probably a ‘one “In addition to IPTV products, we’re automated features in Genus and off’ but, with any luck, something also launching an improved Genus who are keen to keep a tight control similar will happen again this year!” Informer product which enhances on their operating costs. the way our display systems monitor “We’ve also spent much of the year For further information on Genus, themselves and dynamically report responding to requests from or any other 2DB products, please any operational or content issues to customers to optimise and refine contact Angelo Sanzone on a central support control system. We [email protected] or visit their display pages still further and to believe that this product will www.2DB.com IJF rehab centre named for O’Sullevan The Injured Jockeys Fund’s new The project has been given a state-of-the-art rehabilitation and rehabilitation and fitness centre in substantial opening grant from The fitness facilities as well as housing Newmarket, to be situated at the Peter O’Sullevan Charitable Trust, set the IJF head office. Development British Racing School, will be called up to raise funds for racing and other work will begin in late 2016 and the Peter O’Sullevan House. important animal charities. centre is scheduled to open in 2018. Peter O’Sullevan House will have

http://bos.mannybernstein.co.uk BOS Magazine - October 2016 Page 19 TVC Bookmakers’ Trade Fair Catalogue

Cranmore Park Conference Centre, Shirley, Solihull, B90 4LF on Thursday, October 27, 10.30am-4.30pm. Free parking.

TVC will be hosting a networking event following the show in a private function room with bar at the Walkabout, 6-24 Poplar Road, Solihull, B91 3AB starting at 5.30pm.

This event will provide more opportunities to catch up with both potential customers and exhibitors from the day’s event.

The room is equipped with its own bar and a buffet selection of hot food will be available. 2DB Contact: Angelo Sanzone Tel: +44 (0)1707 661063 ABB Mobile: +44 (0)7850 104936 Contact: Peter Craske Email: [email protected] Tel: 0207 434 2111 Website: www.2db.com Mobile: 07714 491069 Email: [email protected] We work with big name brands around the world, developing Website: www.abb.uk.com advanced digital display solutions with real business benefits. Our clients trust us and keep coming back for more. The Association of British Bookmakers is the trade organisation We’re best known for the “unrivalled” GENUS multi-screen display for the UK’s betting shops, which have been trading on the high system and there’s plenty more effective innovation and street for over 50 years. As one of the UK’s leading leisure retail development where that came from. sectors, bookmakers serve over eight million customers, employ GENUS was designed and developed by 2DB to provide cost over 40,000 people and contribute over £3bn to the UK’s effective advanced screen display technology to the bookmaking economy. industry. It has become the “unrivalled” benchmark and system of Our membership ranges from major national operators to single, choice for leading betting brands in the UK and around the world. family-run businesses and, collectively, we represent 80 per cent GENUS enables the use of flicker-free, low cost flat VGA screens of the sector. They include four out of the largest five operators: (instead of TV monitors) at high quality resolution. Fitting out a William Hill, Ladbrokes, Gala Coral and Paddy Power. ABB shop with 20 screens saves around £2,000 per shop and allows for members work to the high standards of responsible gambling set more screens to be added later if required. out in our Code. The ABB promotes and represents the industry to decision makers and in the media, and is responsible for making submissions to the Government or Gambling Commission on matters affecting 49’s shops. We keep our members updated with industry Contact: Jemma Hollingsworth developments, including through regular newsletters and weekly Tel: 0207 734 4901 updates. Email: [email protected] The Safe Bet Alliance, introduced in 2010, has helped make Website: www.49s.co.uk betting shops as safe and secure for staff and customersas possible. The initiative has won awards and been endorsed by the 49’s Ltd has supplied the betting industry with fixed odds betting Association of Chief Police Offices as an example of an industry products for 20 years, both in the UK and internationally. coming together with the police and other partners to tackle a 49’s fixed odds betting product range includes: problem. – 49’s The Twice Daily Draw – Irish Lotto Bet – Virtual Horse & Greyhound Racing A Bet A Technology – RAPIDO Contact: Debbie Hardman Our “flagship” product is the twice daily 49’s Draw, which has Tel: 01420 549988 been available since 1996. It is now being broadcast to our UK and Email: [email protected] international customers with our very own live presenters. Website: www.abeta.co.uk Also included in 49’s product range is the very popular Irish Lotto Bet every Wednesday and Saturday, along with Virtual Horse A Bet A is a leading supplier of betting systems in the UK, Ireland, Racing (Portman Park, Steeple Downs & Sprint Valley) and Virtual and Worldwide. We supply retail/EPOS, call centre, and online Greyhound (Brushwood & Millersfield) brands that are widely bookmaking operations. available to bet on throughout the day. Founded in 1990, as a specialist provider of betting transactional You can keep yourself up-to-date with what’s happening with 49’s systems, A Bet A are innovative, forward looking, and responsive and its products wherever you are, including when you are on the to customer needs and industry developments; always providing move, via our website and free App called ’49’s Results’. new functionality to keep the bookmaker ahead of the game. A Bet A services a worldwide customer base, providing robust, reliable, and cost effective leading edge products. http://bos.mannybernstein.co.uk BOS Magazine - October 2016 Page 20 TVC Bookmakers’ Trade Fair Catalogue

Once you become an A Bet A customer you receive ongoing streamline your betting shop and take care of all your needs – support: we help you to get the best from your product, providing from bet acceptance, security, to reporting and tax returns. Arkle is help, advice, problem solving, and system upgrades. built on modern .NET 4.5 Framework Technologies and SQL Server. Key features: • Remote editing – cut costs – edit bets from any computer, even A Bet A products help the bookmaker cut operating costs and when off site. improve trading margins. Whether you are a small operator or a • Central field book – see your liabilities and alerts in real time large chain, A Bet A solutions can make you more profitable. across your entire estate. • Live security – real time security alerts allow you to take action before expensive payouts are processed. Best Gaming Technology • Screen integration – 2DB/MRG Contact: Chris Newell Intelligent bet sip editor: ArklePOS is already the fastest bet slip Tel: +44 (0)7818 054704 editor on the market. Its ability to remote edit between shops Email: [email protected] spreads the load across the bookmaker’s estate, thus saving on Website: www.best-gaming.com staff costs while increasing customer service. Robustness and uptime: ArklePOS will keep trading even when a BGT is at the vanguard of retail technology in the wagering shop’s server is down, meaning bookmakers can still serve their industry and leads the way as an innovator and provider of sport customers and scan bets. betting services worldwide. Marksense: Fast Marksense processing. Full suite of Marksense Established partners can integrate their own pricing feeds and coupons, across all sports. liability management practices into our system. Alternatively, Tote Betting: Allows your customers to place bets direct into tote partners can operate our turnkey service without any previous pools via tills, including Placepots and Scoop 6. bookmaking experience. Text SMS/email betting: Allows your customers to send bets on the BGT is able to provide comprehensive sports coverage that will go from their mobile direct to your shop or head office. satisfy any sports bettor. All in One screen: Horse Racing all in one – includes jockey silks, Our products evolve with our customers, and this approach serves fully customisable. as the basis for innovation and continued development for our Data feed integration: Includes all SIS & Turf TV data and virtual cross-platform solution. We extended our retail service with the content. Price providers (Toals, Bar One Racing, Super Soccer, Bet addition of two new channels, web and mobile, which enable Byrne). partners to easily expand their offering. By using the BGT platform Account statements with credit card integration for withdrawal with its cutting-edge technology and differentiation, increased and deposits. revenue per customer is easily achieved. Keep up with a fast-paced In shop debit/credit account betting, without a full call centre. industry by partnering with the premier provider of sports betting Central risk management: Managing your estate-wide running solutions for the retail market and then add our remote services liabilities from head office. when the time is right. Call over: Allows the customer to call over a bet which staff can directly input into the system, and the customer receives a receipt Betting Business with potential returns. Contact: Mark Brown Tel: 01257 277400 Bookmakers Technology Consortium Email: [email protected] Contact: Howard Chisholm Website: www.betting-business.co.uk Tel: 01670 813388 Email: [email protected] Betting Business interactive is a high-quality b2b monthly print and Website: www.btc.uk.com digital publication which covers both the betting and iGaming interactive sectors. The publication provides a rich source of news, The BTC’s objective is to assist independent bookmakers in the analysis, editorials and commentary featuring the leading procurement and operation of new technology, on the basis of companies and thought leaders across the industry. The monthly best of breed solutions on beneficial commercial terms. combined print and digital circulation has increased during 2015 to Membership is open to any independent bookmaker based in the 18,412 across 132 jurisdictions, targeting influencers from iGaming UK or Ireland. operator companies spanning the globe. The consortium uses the joint buying power of all the members to negotiate advantageous deals with suppliers. All members are BizTech Software then able to take advantage of these deals. The consortium Contact: Lauren Toal primarily operates as a facilitator not as a service company. Tel: +44 (0)289 581 1427 Email: [email protected] BTech AV Mounts Website: www.biztechsoftware.co.uk Contact: Matt Nixon Tel: 0844 800 0445 BizTech’s Arkle is a next generation betting EPOS, acceptance, and Email: [email protected] settling solution for your betting shop. It is designed to secure and Website: www.btechavmounts.com

http://bos.mannybernstein.co.uk BOS Magazine - October 2016 Page 21 TVC Bookmakers’ Trade Fair Catalogue (Continued)

organisations and individuals we license, and, in respect of Established in 1972, B-Tech continues to invest heavily in research National Lottery functions, by a grant from the National Lottery and development to ensure that our range of audio video Distribution Fund. mounting solutions meets all your requirements as an installer and an end user. B-Tech’s System X range specialises in mounting mul- tiple screens in horizontal or vertical banks to give the perfect secure and seamless information display. IBAS All products are designed and engineered at our international head Contact: Sharon Powell office located in central England. Our international network of Tel: 0207 347 5883 offices and regional stocking distributors truly enhances B-Tech Email: [email protected] Audio Video Mounts as the worldwide leader in audio video Website: www.ibas-uk.com mounting solutions. By its nature, volume and, nowadays, its complexity, gambling is Espresso Essential bound to generate disputes. The UK gambling industry turns over Contact: Mike Phelan in excess of £50 billion per year, and in common with any part of Tel: 0800 731 2980 the retail or leisure sector, requires high-quality customer service Email: [email protected] standards. An essential element of this is the provision to gambling Website: www.espressoessential.co.uk operators and their customers of a quick and effective means for resolving disputes. To resolve a dispute in an effective and credible As part of the Essential Brands Group, Espresso Essential started in manner requires the involvement of an authoritative and Australia before expanding worldwide and reaching the UK in independent third party. 2004. There are now thousands of our automatic coffee machines That is where the Independent Betting Adjudication Service comes serving tens of thousands of delicious coffees around the globe. into the equation. IBAS is a non-statutory organisation, set up in Espresso Essential prides itself on the quality of its products, 1998 and charged with the delivery of authoritative adjudications service and people and aims to exceed the expectations of its to the betting industry. IBAS received the public endorsement of customers before, during and after the initial sale of its real bean the Under-Secretary of State at the Home Office and the approval coffee machines and consumables. of the trade associations. Customers come to appreciate the quality of Espresso Essential’s Before IBAS, the options for a betting consumer who perceived automatic coffee machines which are durable, reliable and perform that their bet had not been correctly settled were very limited. For exceptionally. This is due to their Italian design and build. off-course bets the only option was the Green Seal Service Furthermore, you will not find these machines elsewhere. With provided by the Sporting Life newspaper. For on-course bets a three patents granted and a further three filed, at Espresso limited service is provided by Tattersalls’ Committee. Both of these Essential we are constantly looking to provide our customers with were conceived in an earlier era and were unsuited to provide improved designs and even better tasting coffee. effective adjudication to the modern day betting consumer. To ensure prompt, reliable delivery of products and service, IBAS’s existence is due to the recognition of the betting industry of Espresso Essential has developed UK wide service and sales teams, a need to provide better services to their customers. Legal so its customers are never without support. We hold stocks of endorsement of this approach arrived in 2007 with the machines in the UK and can deliver and install your coffee vending commencement of the Gambling Commission as regulator of the machine with 48 hours’ notice. commercial gambling industry.

Gambling Commission Contact: James Cook Inspired Gaming Tel: 0121 230 6700 Contact: Jeannette La Email: [email protected] Tel: +44 (0)207 438 5800 Website: www.gamblingcommission.gov.co.uk Email: [email protected] Website: www.inspiredgaminggroup.com The Gambling Commission was set up under the Gambling Act 2005 to regulate commercial gambling in Great Britain in partner- Inspired is committed to helping to limit the number of problem ship with licensing authorities. We also regulate the National gamblers, whilst at the same time preserving the enjoyment of Lottery under the National Lottery etc. Act 1993. those who choose to gamble for entertainment. We are an independent non departmental public body (NDPB) As a leading provider of Server-Based Video Lottery products, sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport Inspired Gaming Group is dedicated to making sure that the (DCMS). protection of the vulnerable is paramount when developing new On 1 November 2014 the Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Act technology and games. Due to Inspired’s Open SBG/VLT Core™ 2014 came into force. This Act requires any operator wishing to technology, new responsible gaming software can be deployed transact with, or advertise to, consumers in Britain to obtain an quickly via the network, and operators and regulators can segment operating licence from the Gambling Commission. data by any criteria, for example by game, machine, player, We have over 250 employees, mostly based at our offices in average stake, or time on device. Birmingham, including around 40 home-based colleagues working Inspired only operates in regulated markets and we work closely across England, Scotland, and Wales. with government regulators and customers in each of the Our work is funded by fees set by DCMS and paid by the countries to protect those at risk of problem gambling, we do this via: http://bos.mannybernstein.co.uk BOS Magazine - October 2016 Page 22 TVC Bookmakers’ Trade Fair Catalogue (Continued)

 Fairness: Using systems that are secure and regulated and by Mobile: 07967 752793 ensuring that all our content and platforms are independently Email: [email protected] tested Website: www.mrgsystems.co.uk  Transparency: Ensuring that the RTP (return to player) is accessible in help pages Over the years our systems have been used in many diverse markets, from banking, betting and broadcasting to education,  Funding: By providing financial contributions to a variety of retail and transport. Most recently YouTube installed the LiveSpace charitable gambling organisations who are committed to digital signage system to manage their public facing screens at researching, preventing and treating problem gambling in the their new offices in London. countries that we operate in At the Trade Fair we have new independent products that work for  Research and development: Sharing data to help understand the big high street chains but are ready for your shops right now. the causes of problem gambling and to create world leading player These cost-effective products add new interest, more features and protection software provide a better customer experience. They give customers more Education: Providing clear guidance to our employees, customers reasons to stay in the shop, resulting in increased sales and and the public regarding signs of problem gambling, who to improved loyalty. Visit the MRG stand to experience solutions used contact for help, and intervention advice where appropriate. by world-class companies.

Manny Bernstein Optima Contact: Tony Nicholls Contact: Jamie Maskey Tel: 0800 821821 Tel: +44 (0)7723 580517 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Website: www.mannybernstein.co.uk Website: www.optimaonline.es

Manny Bernstein Bookmakers were established in 1977 and Optima has acquired full intellectual property rights to the GTECH quickly grew to become a respected name in the betting industry. MarginMaker sports betting and gaming platform and is a licensed They became one of the leading suppliers of Early/Ante post prices B2B supplier of turnkey sports betting and gaming solutions under to independent bookmakers, and by having a full understanding of its Malta licences. a bookmaker’s hedging requirements also became one of the Optima’s management team has many years’ experience working biggest layers to the trade. on the senior management teams of successful online gaming In addition, the credit betting side of the business also grewto operators and offers this knowledge as an inclusive part of design- substantial levels. The company expanded to in excess of 30 ing and implementing solutions for partners. We continue to invest betting shops in the Midlands and East Yorkshire areas. in efficient, innovative and solid technology, product and service to When racecourse pitches became available to purchase at auction, keep partners at the forefront of the industry with a global reach. Manny Bernstein purchased 25 pitches at all the top courses in Above all else, Optima prides itself on a straightforward and honest prime positions on the rails. approach to business. To discuss your business requirements In 2002 Manny Bernstein Bookmakers sold the betting shops and further, please contact us on [email protected] to arrange a racecourse pitches and concentrated their full efforts on the meeting. services offered to independent bookmakers: an early price service We have a new way of thinking. and a first class hedging service. In 2006 Manny Bernstein Credit Betting and Early Price Service was purchased by the Don Noble Group. The Don Noble Group have Prestige Seating Technology been established since the legalisation of betting in 1963 and Contact: Stephen Treharne operate a long established local credit betting business, 9 betting Tel: 0191 456 6209 shops in the Lincolnshire area, and a property portfolio. Email: [email protected] Manny Bernstein was re-located from its Leicester base to state of Website: www.pstseating.com the art offices in Louth, Lincolnshire and has continued to enhance the service to bookmakers. Prestige Seating Technology is Europe’s leading supplier to the leisure industry of chromium and brass plated metal furniture. Worldwide, many prestigious bars, nightclubs, discotheques, Marlborough Bookshop casinos and other leisure establishments have benefited from the company’s high quality furniture. The revolutionary self-levelling, Contact: Rupert Mackeson self-returning gas lifts can be fitted to all stem chairs. Most of the Tel: 01934 613996 chairs can be fitted with a swivel or a self-return swivel.

The company also pride themselves in manufacturing bespoke The Marlborough bookshop and sporting gallery will have for sale a chairs to customers’ specified designs. Every detail of every P.S.T big selection of racing books, memorabilia such as cuff links, pin chair has been carefully designed and tested to provide the badges and also prints priced from £12 to £120. A visit will solve optimal casino experience for the player. many Christmas present problems. P.S.T chairs are ergonomic and engineered for comfort, with exceptional attention to detail paid to every aspect of the chair, from the seat back and bottom to the frame and footrest. This MRG Systems relentless attention to detail and quality means that P.S.T chairs Contact: Ian Hunter are more comfortable and durable, which translates to more “time Tel: 01453 820840 on device” – a true measurement of success for every casino. http://bos.mannybernstein.co.uk BOS Magazine - October 2016 Page 23 TVC Bookmakers’ Trade Fair Catalogue (Continued)

technology enhancements SG Gaming  Advanced server-based platform with real-time reporting and Contact: Karen Booth on terminal promotional functionality Tel: +44 (0)161 684 6729  Leading content titles developed under the Barcrest, WMS and Mobile: +44 (0)7584 472542 Bally gaming brands Email: [email protected]  Flexible sports betting hardware and retail technology Website: www.sg-gaming.com solutions  Dedicated account management, marketing and field support SG Gaming, a division of Scientific Games Corporation, is a leading with a 7 days a week helpdesk provider of gaming solutions for the licensed betting office, arcade and bingo sectors in the UK. Working in partnership with our customers, we deliver leading content and technology that help to TVC Technology Solutions drive cash box performance for operators. Our business supplies Contact: Andy Greaves hardware solutions across gaming and sports betting and offers Tel: 01204 395999 unparalleled service and support throughout the UK. Mobile: 07810 865802 SG Gaming brought together the heritage and experience of Email: [email protected] Barcrest, one of the UK’s leading content and hardware developers Website: wwc.uk.com and The Global Draw, who pioneered the introduction of B2/B3 gaming machines into the UK Licensed Betting Office sector. This TVC will be showcasing the latest technology innovations available combined expertise and experience produces gaming solutions to the betting and gaming industry. As a betting industry leader, that are designed to exceed our customers’ expectations. TVC aim to provide all the tools required to create the betting shop As a leading provider of gaming and retail solutions we offer: of the future. Visit the TVC stand during the show to see a range of  Cutting edge, networked HD gaming terminals with the latest exciting products available to you today! Counting down to BSMOTY 2016 CONTENDERS FOR THE title of SIS and Racing Post are once in November.” SIS/Racing Post Betting Shop again joint sponsors of the Betting The SIS/Racing Post Betting Manager of the Year 2016 are Shop Manager of the Year Shop Manager of the Year is a gradually being whittled down. The competition, which celebrates an celebration of the British and Irish finalists have once again been split industry that is vital to both the local bookmaking industry, and has been into eight regions, all bidding to take and national economy, supporting a can’t-miss date on the fixture list over from current Betting Shop close to 40,000 full time jobs in the for more than 30 years. Manager of the Year Matt Howe of UK alone. Managers from the independent Ladbrokes. A VIP trip of a lifetime to sector are thin on the ground this The final stage will see the Singapore is one of the highlights to year, but congratulations to Enda eight regional champions, alongside be awarded to the eventual winner. Carey of Bar One in Galway and their deputy managers, attend a Nigel Boardman of SIS, said: Richard Ditchburn of Chisholm panel interview the day before the “The awards have always been a Bookmakers’ Gateshead shop for awards ceremony at the Jumeriah celebration of the British and Irish having made it through to the latter Carlton Tower Hotel in bookmaking industry, and we can’t stages. Knightsbridge, London on wait to continue the storied November 21. tradition by crowning a new winner Arkle: Ahead of the field BizTech’s Arkle is a next generation Arkle is built on modern .NET 4.5 Arkle is currently installed in over betting EPOS, acceptance, and Framework Technologies and SQL 250 shops and is integrated with settling solution for your betting Server. MRG and 2DB screen display shop. It is designed to secure and Modules include fast slip editing, systems. streamline your betting shop and mark sense slips, text betting, We pride ourselves on our take care of all your needs – from account betting, placing bets direct uptime. Please feel free to call by bet acceptance, security, to into tote pools, live security and our stand for a demo. reporting and tax returns. shop statistics, remote editing and much more. http://bos.mannybernstein.co.uk BOS Magazine - October 2016 Page 24

More information, better displays and even better prices

AT THE TIME of writing this piece the technology in recent years now the shop, resulting in increased sales Rio Olympics have just ended and our provides very different products and and improved loyalty. athletes have just touched down at solutions compared to just a few The DailyForm touchscreen Heathrow. And what a fantastic years ago. form guide is now a mini PC and a performance from Team GB, winning Off-the-shelf hardware touchscreen monitor for just £420 more medals than at London 2012. solutions have transformed the plus a small monthly data charge. It One of the snippets we industry. PC technology does more, provides customers with all the learned from the coverage is that does it faster and connects to more racing form to explore before they since the London Olympics many GB devices. Couple that to the advances make their betting decisions. Giving trainers and team coaches have taking place within the software customers a way to make better adopted the concept of “the development world and screen decisions helps to reinforce their accumulation of marginal gains” solutions are smarter, cheaper and loyalty. developed by Sir David Brailsford, simpler to use than ever before. This year MRG introduced formerly the performance director of If you are visiting the Trade LiveSpace, a system that drives the British Fair in Solihull on October 27, MRG peripheral screen systems in a shop. Cycling. Whilst there is no can show you the new independent Whether that is the digital signage in comparison with the herculean products that work for the big high your windows and behind the desk, efforts made by our Olympians, the street chains but which can also be All-in-One screens or digital versions screen technologies and software installed in any shop right now. These of the racing papers on the walls, development MRG employs have products add new interest, more LiveSpace adds eye-catching displays also relentlessly advanced in terms of features and provide a better for you to promote your best deals their all-round capabilities. The customer experience. They give and push future events. Scalable, it’s accelerated improvement in customers more reasons to stay in easy to tap into new features and

http://bos.mannybernstein.co.uk BOS Magazine - October 2016 Page 26 build a comprehensive solution that window screens and the array of Ring Darren Macdonald or addresses every aspect of 75-inch screens on an internal wall Ian Hunter on 01453 820840 for a information display and advertising run LiveSpace digital signage, chat about your aims and how MRG you need to increase your success. displaying over 150 concurrent will help you to achieve the best All of these are offered with the videos. So whatever you need, MRG results for your business. option to spread the costs, making it will deliver exciting solutions to en- MRG have been involved in a unbeatable value. liven any shop. number of very exciting projects Not convinced? Let us tell MRG want you to enjoy the recently and have lots to share, so you about the latest LiveSpace benefits of LiveSpace so our prices connect with us on LinkedIn and installation MRG delivered in August. start at £20 per month for a licence follow us on Twitter @MRGsystems YouTube Spaces is a new service to connect to the Cloud service. We for the latest news and provided by YouTube at its new make the process as quick and developments. offices in Kings Cross, London. All simple as possible so you could be thirty-two of the outward facing up and running in days. Optima in BetMcLean deal Northern Ireland's largest an excellent reputation in terms of Optima CEO and founder Jacob independent bookmaker performance and scalability, Curciel added: “We will work hard to BetMcLean, which has more than 60 together with a very rich set of assure that BetMcLean has the retail shops, has upgraded its digital professional bookmaking tools and technology and products to achieve operation with the help of Optima. features, and with all of the their objective of leading the CEO Paul McLean said: “We are very integrated services that will allow us Northern Ireland market, delivering pleased to be partnering with to offer an excellent product to our the best and most enjoyable Optima; their software platform has customers.” customer experience across all channels.”

Inspired bought by Hydra Virtual sports and betting terminal remainder payable in Hydra shares, take a seat on the new Inspired specialist Inspired Gaming Group has leaving Vitruvian with a 35 per cent board. Weill said Hydra had been been sold to acquisition vehicle Inspired stake. When the deal “searching for a compelling business Hydra Industries for £200m. Private closes, Inspired will be renamed that utilises our skill set to drive equity firm Vitruvian Partners Inspired Entertainment. Hydra’s growth.” He said Hydra would use confirmed the sale, which follows its founder, former Scientific Games Inspired “as a platform for potential £270m April sale of betting tech CEO Lorne Weill, will become opportunistic acquisitions of provider OpenBet to NYX Gaming Inspired’s executive chairman when synergistic businesses across a Group. the deal completes. number of geographies.” Vitruvian will receive an initial cash Inspired founder and CEO Luke payment of £100m, with the Alvarez will continue in the role and BGT extends JenningsBet link

Best Gaming Technology (BGT), who BGT managing director John Pettit JenningsBet counterpart Julian will be exhibiting for the first time at said: “JenningsBet were one of the Knight added: “Our aim is to be at this year’s TVC Bookmakers’ Trade first UK operators to see the vast the forefront of SSBTs to ensure our Fair, has expanded its ties with potential of the product and we customers receive the ultimate JenningsBet via a new three-year have worked very closely over the sports betting experience and we deal to provide a further 40 SSBTs to years to get to this stage.” will undoubtedly achieve this the bookmaker. through our partnership with BGT.”

http://bos.mannybernstein.co.uk BOS Magazine - October 2016 Page 27

One stop shop offering to independent sector

in tailoring its products and services operators to the industry, which is to the independent sector. It’s one why we have a comprehensive of the reasons we provide a one stop support package in place that helps shop service – offering terminals, operators to take advantage of all content, service and support all in the same opportunities as their one place. It’s also what makes SG larger rivals. Gaming a leading supplier to the UK Our account management independent LBO sector. team’s ongoing support is a key part The right product is the of this package — whether you have cornerstone to any machine gaming one shop or a large estate, our environment and this year we’ve approach is consistent with seen agreements with independent customers having access to an operators to upgrade their estates to account manager with access to a SG Gaming’s Infinity terminal. The wide range of resources. These Infinity delivers the latest in include analytics and training advanced gaming technology and support, and marketing promotions platform functionality; with its dual which enable us to work in HD game screens and interactive partnership with our customers to Phil Horne, Chief Executive Officer button it provides operators with the maximise the performance of their of SG Gaming, recognises the tools required to operate in today’s terminals. importance of supporting independ- competitive market. SG Gaming’s seven day a ent bookmakers with a fully integrat- Equally important is our ex- week helpdesk and field engineering ed offering. tensive and growing portfolio of support comes into play when our leading content titles developed customers need instant technical Independent betting shops are an under the Barcrest, WMS and Bally support. This support is particularly essential part of the British betting gaming brands. We offer both important for operators, as it office landscape, and operators are a licensed and non-licensed games, provides technical support across vital part of the industry, supporting ranging from classic titles such as the UK and limits machine jobs and offering players greater Key Bet Roulette and Rainbow Riches downtime, ensuring their machine choice on the high street. Like their to new slots games such as Hercules. gaming business operates to its full competitors and major high street Our content library includes titles potential. bookmakers, independent operators with new features and menus to We value our new and have a need for state of the art keep up with the changing needs of longstanding relationships with the terminals, exciting content titles that players and the functionality of independent LBO sector. That’s why help to drive cashbox and a flexible, cabinets. we continue to improve our one stop adaptable and reliable platform. We understand the shop offering, ensuring it meets the SG Gaming takes great pride important role of independent needs of the independent sector.

SG Gaming’s new game titles

SG Gaming has recently unveiled paylines active for all stakes, and LBO title is based on SG’s Shuffle new additions to its innovative features vertical Mighty Reels that Master table game. Players compete content library. are played on both game screens head to head against the dealer, Hercules High and Mighty is a new and activated when the Hercules with in-play bets available of up to £500 jackpot game, available across symbol is revealed on any reel. four times the ante. Additionally, the the LBO, Arcade and Bingo sectors. For poker players, SG Gaming has Trips side bet feature allows players Building on the successful Colossal released the new high stakes to win up to 50 times their stake. Reels concept, it has up to 100 Ultimate Texas Hold ’Em. This new

http://bos.mannybernstein.co.uk BOS Magazine - October 2016 Page 29 ABB ensure independents’ voice is heard

The Bookmakers’ Trade Fair is Attended a meeting of we will be making a robust, evidence important for the Association of independent operators and led case to the Department for British Bookmakers (ABB) as it is a SIS about media rights Culture, Media and Sport. chance to catch up with many of our Updated the ABB’s Responsible In fact, since the last review in 2013, independent members, and hear Gambling Code and worked we have a very positive story to tell. directly about the challenges they are with machine manufacturers facing at the moment. on the new responsible We now have a strong track record gambling alerts of going far beyond regulatory The insight of our independent requirements and voluntarily members helps shape the briefings Provided guidance for independ- ent members on the new introducing measures that help we provide when meeting Ministers secure responsible gambling. Our or the Gambling Commission. Local Area Risk Assessments Launched online training on recent Gamble Aware Week is a We never forget that our independent financial crime and money good example of the whole sector members are businesses who have laundering, and refreshed the working together to promote the new been serving customers and responsible gambling course alerts for machines and promoting communities for many years, and too Presented a report on why the message of only betting what you often, the smaller operators are betting shops are the safest can afford to lose. That is why overlooked by regulators and it is place to gamble for the betting shops will remain one of the part of our job to make sure their BBC’s ‘Daily Politics’ safest places to have a bet. voice is heard. programme Measures like that, and the series set Since last year’s Trade Fair, we’ve: Seen independent members soar out within the Responsible Gambling to a record pass rate for the Run a training session for Code are one of the reasons problem age verification testing independent members on the gambling levels remain at only 0.5 programme new Self Exclusion scheme per cent – the same number as it was Held our Annual General Held a successful Gamble Aware in 1999, before gaming machines Meeting with the Gambling Week were introduced. Commission Chief Executive Met with Ministers and staff from Let’s never forget that this is a great as guest speaker the Gambling Commission industry, one that does all it can to Held a Parliamentary reception, Looking ahead, we anticipate there ensure our customers can enjoy attended by the Sports being a review of stakes and prizes themselves and bet in a safe and Minister on gaming machines. If that happens, responsible way.

ABB: self-exclusion working well

The Association of British more accurate figure for the total with just one phone call, compared Bookmakers believes a new national number of people self-excluding. to having to go to each operator or self-exclusion policy for betting Previously, one person excluding shop, one after another...We shops is working well and will from 10 different shops would be continually review our responsible provide improved data on problem recorded as 10 different exclusions, gambling processes. We will be gambling. whereas now they will be counted as looking at learnings as the system With 1,200 people having used the one person.” beds in to inform next steps in this scheme, PR manager Peter Craske He added: “Customers have said area.” said: “One of the benefits of the new that they appreciate being able to system is that it should provide a exclude from a number of shops

http://bos.mannybernstein.co.uk BOS Magazine - October 2016 Page 30

49’s: Who Are We?

49’s Ltd has supplied the betting content as a regular in the LBO daily www.49s.co.uk – and FREE App industry with fixed odds betting diet of programming. called ‘49’s Results’. You can also products for 20 years, both in the UK join over 7,000 Twitter followers and internationally. Coming soon from 49’s with the conversation online by following us @Bet49s. 49’s Ltd fixed odds betting product We will shortly be announcing new range: fixed odds betting products, Jemma Hollingsworth, Marketing - 49'’s The Twice Daily Draw including the Irish Lotto Bet Daily Services Manager, said: “49’s Ltd has - Irish Lotto Bet Millions and international lottos. We set the standards for fixed odds - Virtual Horse & Greyhound Racing will support our new brands with numbers betting for the past 20 - RAPIDO results, recommended odds, rules years and we are very proud to and national promotions. introduce a wider range of new Our flagship product is the twice international lottos this year to give daily 49’s Draw, broadcast live since We are also pleased to announce our customers more content across 1996 and for the past year with our that we have licensed 49’s Virtual all platforms. very own live presenters. brands to Inspired Gaming Group (IGG) to distribute to digital “2016 will also see our first licensing The very popular Irish Lotto Bet channels. This new service will partnership with IGG taking our every Wednesday and Saturday is provide an opportunity to play our branded tracks online for the first still the largest grossing numbers popular brands 24/7 online. time. product for the LBO market. Virtual Horse Racing (Portman Park, You can keep yourself up-to-date “We are very aware that the retail Steepledowns and Sprint Valley) and with what’s happening with 49’s and landscape is evolving and to this end Virtual Greyhound (Brushwood and its products wherever you are, we will be working with SSBT Millersfield) brands are the original including when you are on the suppliers to provide our content on trail blazers, establishing virtual move, via our website – this emerging platform.”

TRP and Turf TV share satellite infrastructure

The Racing Partnership (TRP) and Furthermore, the parties will glad to facilitate The Racing Turf TV have agreed to share share ongoing support and Partnership service for any of our satellite infrastructure in UK and maintenance services meaning a Turf TV customers who choose to Irish Licensed Betting Offices. This single point of contact for the take the new channel. It’s a logical agreement will see Turf TV and TRP customers of both services in sharing satellite infrastructure across relation to any technical issues. step and a decision made in the best the existing estate of Turf TV ARC’s Director of Media interests of our valued customers independent bookmaker customers Technology and Production and and the sport itself.” in the UK and Ireland. Director of The Racing Partnership, The joint-venture is proving The joint approach will mean Mark Kingston, said: “We are popular with Irish bookmakers, with that there is no requirement for delighted that we have reached an BoyleSports, Sean Graham, Bar One, most independent LBOs to install agreement with Turf TV to share Track Sports, Bambury, Tully, Fox’s any additional satellite dishes, their satellite delivery should they subscribe to TRP. Most infrastructure. It is a deal which not and Mulholland’s among the firms LBOs will be able to continue to use only benefits both TRP and Turf TV, committing to the new channel. the existing satellite dishes at their but more importantly puts the With East Midlands-based premises ensuring a smooth wishes of independent bookmakers independent Mark Jarvis also signing transition to receiving the new TRP first.” up 57 shops, more than 900 outlets TV channel. Alan Flitcroft, Chairman of are already subscribers. AMRAC (Turf TV), added: “We are http://bos.mannybernstein.co.uk BOS Magazine - October 2016 Page 33 The Strange Case of the Secret Office

didn’t make mistakes – at least none we had to send the actual bets back that the world’s biggest bookmakers to clients was because photo-copy wanted outsiders to find out about. machines also hadn’t been invented yet. HILL’S STAFF WERE only human so of From all sides I heard “Send an course they made errors. This was Ack. 6” every day as instructions natural because at the time of the were given to the typists. But firm’s rapid expansion in the early sometimes the clients themselves 1950s, thousands of telephone, made mistakes and this often cost telegram, and postal bets were them money. It happened when it pouring into Hill House every day was found on checking their bets and those incredible computerized that they’d actually been overpaid. settling machines we marvel at Ben even had a stock letter for them today hadn’t been invented yet. to cover just such a contingency, and Our “secret” department was run to the client’s chagrin his or her by Ben Bradbury. Slim, tall, balding account was duly debited with the and well-dressed, Ben had been a amount our settlers had settling clerk when William Hill’s inadvertently overpaid. ONE OF WILLIAM HILL’s head office was in London’s Park ONE DAY SOMETHNING unheard of departments didn’t exist – at least Lane. Ben was helped by four happened in our top-floor hideaway. not officially. It was located on the correspondence clerks including me, The door opened and in marched top floor of Hill House in Piccadilly, three shorthand typists and an the last man we expected to pay us was fully staffed and busy, but no unusual office boy by the name of a visit – William Hill himself. He one ever admitted it was there. I Harry Knowles. looked around and blinked as if only knew about the place because I Now I mustn’t give the surprised to see us all busily working worked in it. impression that our customers were away. But he wasn’t half as If you went out of your way and always right. In fact, many clients surprised as Ben Bradbury who searched you’d eventually find nine who wrote in claiming they hadn’t nearly swallowed his pipe. of us in a modest room behind an been paid enough were nearly It turned out that Mr. Hill had unmarked door on the far side of the always wrong, so much so that Ben been on a tour of inspection of the staff canteen where you could get a created a special stock letter for cafeteria next door where he’d three-course lunch in the early them known as the “Ack. 6”. It went recently installed new kitchen 1950s for two shillings (10p) with a like this: equipment and also had the cup of tea thrown in. restaurant redecorated in shades of Visitors to Hill House, all in the Dear Sir/Madam, green, his favourite colour. betting business overseas and eager He was accompanied by In reply to your enquiry dated …., we have to see how Britain’s biggest carefully re-checked the wager you placed racing-room manager Don Hart, a bookmakers operated, were never on …. and are unable to find any mistake in friend of Ben Bradbury’s when they shown what went on where we our settlement. worked together in Park Lane. Don were. Tour groups from France, We are therefore enclosing the wager for had left-wing views that were shared Germany and even Australia were your inspection, and respectfully ask that by William Hill, who’d been born you return it to us for the purpose of our often escorted around the settling, records using the pre-paid envelope provid- into poverty in a Birmingham slum. accounts and filing departments but ed. Ben jumped to his feet and finding out what we got up to was We are glad to be of service and assure you hastily began showing our visitors out. of our prompt and courteous attention at all around the office, explaining Our department dealt with times. everything we did and in his nervous clients’ complaints. It was hidden For and on behalf of William Hill Limited, excitement giving over-flowery from view because in a firm dedicat- accounts of how we did it. ed to efficiency, accuracy and de- (signed) B. J. Bradbury, “Now Mr. Hill, this wall chart pendability, the 600-odd people who Manager, shows the number of queries we worked at Hill House in Piccadilly Correspondence Department. receive each day,” Ben said as he I should explain that the reason http://bos.mannybernstein.co.uk BOS Magazine - October 2016 Page 34 by Angus Dalrymple pointed to a board on the wall. “As “What’s this?” Ben’s jaw dropped when Mr. Hill you can see, we got twenty-seven “That, sir,” Ben said proudly, “is slowly and deliberately tore his letters this morning. Our average is my own invention, it’s called the Rickets List in half. “You can scrap three dozen a day, but in the week Rickets List.” doing this from now on, I don’t want after a big race we often get more “Rickets List? What’s that?” to hear another word about it.” than fifty.” “Well, the word ‘ricket’ is slang “I confess I hadn’t thought of it “Really,” Mr. Hill remarked used by our settlers. ‘I’ve made a like that, Mr. Hill”. Ben took the list somewhat vaguely. ricket’ they always say when they and dropped the pieces in his “It’s a long job looking up bets make a mistake. Now that list you’re waste-basket. “No more lists will be because it’s difficult to track them holding,” Ben went on, “shows the kept in this department, sir, rest down in the various departments. number of mistakes each settler assured on that.” Sometimes it takes hours to find the makes that are uncovered by my original of a wager because of its staff in the course of a week.” BEN’S EYES SUDDENLY flashed in many destinations.” Ben pointed to a name at the top panic and his face began to twitch. “You don’t tell me.” of the list. “Take this settler here. Mr. Hill, nodding at the rest of us, “Yes, and some clients actually Wally Prince made 21 rickets – I was edging closer to the invent complaints knowing that their should say mistakes – last week, and notice-board. queries don’t have the slightest this week he’s already up to 16. And We thought we knew what Ben merit. They do it,” Ben added I can tell you this: a lot of settlers was fretting about. A prominent sign impressively, “because they want to don’t like the way we keep tabs on on the board was one of his jokes stall and avoid having to settle their them; it puts them on guard, I’m and read, somewhat sarcastically: accounts promptly. It’s a delaying happy to say.” Ben gave a modest “To Err is Human; to Debit is Divine.” tactic, you see, that gives them an laugh. “Why, some of them have Also on show was a letter from a extra week or two to pay up. But been known to leave the firm over client we called “Mr. Grouser” who you can rest assured that my staff it, throwing up their entire careers was always grumbling he’d been here and I are on to their tricks here. But as I’m sure you’ll underpaid but was never right, a fact every time.” appreciate, my list is compiled all in that made him madder than ever. “Amazing.” Mr. Hill’s eyes were the cause of efficiency to help us His grouchy letter on the board had beginning to glaze over. sort out the wheat from the chaff.” given us a laugh. It read: “Dear B. J. “And I keep detailed notes in this “Wheat from the chaff?” Mr. Hill Bradbury, I can find only one word ledger here,” Ben feverishly turned echoed. “I’ve been wondering why to describe your service in recent pages and pointed to a list of my staff manager has had to weeks. It is SHOCKING.” entries, “showing the exact number advertise for more settlers lately. He But it turned out it was of times our clients give the same even persuaded me to pay them a something else on the board that lame excuse for making complaints. fifteen per cent cost-of-living bonus was giving Ben the shakes. One of It’s quite fascinating, Mr. Hill, to see to make sure they stay with us. And our clerks, the portly Jake Gibbs, got that they always tell us exactly the here you are, doing your best up Ben’s signal and came to the rescue. same thing in exactly the same here to make them leave.” Jake strolled over to the board and words.” “I know Wally Prince,” Don Hart stood in front of it, blocking most of “And what’s that, Ben?” Don cut in. “He was with me as a it from view. Hart asked politely as Mr. Hill’s telephonist in Park Lane, worked his attention began to wander to our way up to be a settler, and became a As Mr. Hill drew closer, the staff notice-board. damn fine one at that.” situation was again saved when Don “They all write, ‘It isn’t the Mr. Hill gave Ben Bradbury an icy Hart glanced at his watch and said, money, it’s the principle of the look. “Has it occurred to you,” he “I’d better get back downstairs, Bill, thing.’ But it’s never the principle of demanded, “that our best settlers the first race will be coming up the thing at all, believe me,” said are likely to make more mistakes soon.” Ben. “It’s the money every time.” because they do far more work Our visitors left. Ben blew out his every day and settle thousands more breath. “God, that was close.” He WILLIAM HILL GLANCED down at a bets than the others and that with then signalled his office boy, Harry piece of paper on Ben’s desk and this list of yours, you’re penalising Knowles, to come over. picked it up. them for their hard work?” “Harry,” Ben said, “do you know http://bos.mannybernstein.co.uk BOS Magazine - October 2016 Page 35 The Strange Case of the Secret Office continued…. what would have happened if Mr. “Grand Political Meeting.” Hill and Don had seen that stupid Beneath the announcement the notice you put up this morning? boy had written: “Get your free They’d have played blue murder. tickets from Harry. Come and bring Don was wounded in a fight with the your friends.” damned Fascists before the war When the first race was over Ben during a riot. They stabbed him in went down to Don Hart in the racing the leg – that’s why he walks with a room and asked him why he’d limp today. And Mr. Hill would have brought Mr. Hill on a surprise visit been mad as hell with me for not without giving him the courtesy of a tearing that idiotic poster down. warning phone call. They both hate those rotten swines Don smiled. “But we weren’t you’re promoting and so does coming to see you, Ben, not at all! everybody else. Don’t you know we When the old man opened your fought six years to beat those door he thought it would take us to devils? Take it down now and tear it the lift on the landing.” up. And any others you’ve posted William Hill elsewhere.” HAPPILY, SIR OSWALD MOSLEY’S never got over the terrible reception What Harry removed was a grand political comeback was a he got and left Britain in disgust. leaflet advertising a rally to be held disaster. As for Harry Knowles, our office at the Kensington Town Hall that The Fascist leader imprisoned by boy gave up politics, mastered the coming Friday when Sir Oswald Winston Churchill during the war art of settling, and went on to Mosley, leader of the British Union was booed, heckled and shouted become a competent of Fascists before the war, was down by an angry crowd. Mosley correspondence clerk himself in the attempting a comeback by William Hill department that never addressing what was billed as a was. Gambling Commission news

THE GAMBLING COMMISSION has GAMBLING COMMISSION published a new version of the chief Sarah Harrison touched on a licence conditions and codes of number of issues in an interview practice that will come into effect on with the Mail on Sunday in August, October 31. Amendments focus on including fixed odds betting the prevention of crime associated terminals. with gambling, placing digital Amidst calls for a reduction adverts responsibly and controlling in the maximum stake permitted on where gaming machines may be such machines, she said: “I’d played in betting, bingo and casino welcome a review as soon as premises. possible.” She added: “To focus on A statement said: “A key stake size alone is unlikely to be a focus of this review has been the silver bullet. We’d like all options on anti-money laundering provisions the table, including further stake within LCCP and we have introduced reduction. Our goal is to reduce a new consolidated principal harm related to gambling and look anti-money laundering requirement at it from every mode of gambling – as the most significant change. This machines, online, casinos, will require licensees to assess and everywhere.” Sarah Harrison manage the risks of their business The Gambling Commission is being used for money laundering keen to keep on top of the eSports under-age players and fans have and terrorist financing.” sector following reports that engaged in a form of illegal betting http://bos.mannybernstein.co.uk BOS Magazine - October 2016 Page 36 on such events. Harrison said: “This THE GAMBLING COMMISSION also concerned that not continued…. is a very significant market and one has launched a discussion paper everyone understands that players we’re quite focused on. Is there a outlining its views on eSports, social do not need to stake or risk anything risk of it being attractive to or played gaming and virtual currencies. The before offering facilities for gaming by young people? We are seeing real commission’s general counsel Neil will need to be licensed. Any challenges here and will use our McArthur said: “Our key concern is operator wishing to offer facilities for powers to the full, including taking to ensure that consumers are gambling, including gambling criminal action where we see betting protected and that children and using virtual currencies, to and gambling that isn’t licensed.” other vulnerable people are not consumers in Great Britain, must With several major firms harmed or exploited by gambling. hold an operating licence. Any having been heavily penalised for This discussion paper brings to the operator who is offering unlicensed high-profile infringements regarding fore some areas where we see real gambling must stop – or face the anti-money laundering and social issues for regulation, player consequences.” responsibility procedures, Harrison protection and the protection of has vowed to continue to crack the children and young people.” THE LATEST GAMBLING Commission whip. She said: “Recently we’ve had Regarding eSports, McArthur participation survey has highlighted a five investigations, all resulting in commented: “Like any other market, drop in betting activity amongst penalties and the firms conducting we expect operators offering young adults aged 18-24, with just 11 external audits of their processes. markets on eSports to manage the per cent saying they had gambled They’ve had to stand up in front of risks - including the significant risk online, down from 12 per cent for their peers and say what they’ve that children and young people may the same period last year and 17 per learnt. If we find there are firms who try to bet on such events given the cent in 2014. Taking out those who repeat mistakes they can expect growing popularity of eSports with only wager on the National Lottery, tougher sanctions. We’ll use those who are too young to the figure falls to 10 per cent, down everything in our locker to make sure gamble.” two points from 12 months ago. customers are protected.” The Gambling Commission is The Gambling Commission concerned about the blurring of lines THE GAMBLING COMMISSION has also wants more investment from between some social gaming suspended the licenses held by bookmakers in finding ways to products and gambling. McArthur Smart TV Broadcasting while a combat problem gambling. Harrison added: “In terms of social gaming, review of the interactive TV and commented: “In 2015 the industry the Commission’s view has not website operator takes place. A spent £6.5m on research, education changed significantly since the statement said: “The suspension is and treatment under the voluntary publication of its social gaming an interim measure, the need for scheme, against £120m on TV paper in January 2015. But if we which will be kept under advertising– that can’t be right.” discover that items such as consideration whilst the review takes Staffing levels in betting additional spins, credits or tokens or place. We are aware that there are shops were also discussed, with even loyalty points are tradeable, currently customers who have Harrison adding: “We’ve asked then we will be taking a keen outstanding balances in their operators to set out staffing policies, interest.” accounts with the operator. what lessons they’re learning and if On the subject of betting with Regrettably, at this point we have no there’s need for further action. If you virtual currencies, McArthur noted: further information on the position don’t have staff who feel safe they’re “We are concerned about virtual of customer funds.” not able to protect currencies and ‘in-game’ items, customers.” which can be used to gamble. We are Moyes is new Commission chairman Bill Moyes has been appointed as Bradley with the approval of Prime him well at the Gambling the new chairman of the Gambling Minister Theresa May. Commission.” Commission for a five-year term, Bradley said: “I am delighted Bill Moyes, who is also chairman of the succeeding Philip Graf as head of the Moyes is taking up the position as General Dental Council, was industry regulator. The appointment chair of the Gambling Commission. previously director general and was made by Secretary of State for He has a wealth of experience executive director of British Retail Culture, Media and Sport Karen across the public, private and Consortium and has held a number voluntary sectors, which will serve of non-executive directorships.

http://bos.mannybernstein.co.uk BOS Magazine - October 2016 Page 37 Matt Howe reflects on whirlwind year

was an Juvenile Trophy at Wimbledon and enthusiastic the Ladbrokes Golden Jacket, where reaction from I met people from within Ladbrokes the staff with who’d worked their way up from whom he’d shop level and you get to see for shared his yourself the progression that can be 10-year career made. at the firm. And “I enjoyed being at ICE at the a decent ExCel Arena in London in February, response from seeing the new slots games and the customers being able to promote their features too, even the to potential customers. Learning Matt and Synita at Kranji pair who about their features before they daubed graffiti arrived in the shops was useful for THE SUN IS setting on Matt Howe’s on Ladbrokes’ full-page me, likewise the technology involved reign as Racing Post/SIS Betting Shop congratulatory picture of him in the with the self-service betting Manager of the Year, just as it did next day’s Racing Post, and then terminals.” over Marina Bay in Singapore, during asked him if he would still be okay to Matt had already visited his visit for the Emirates Singapore make the tea for them. Thailand, Egypt and America, but Derby, part of his prize for winning Having left his previous job never in the VIP style with which he last year’s flagship competition for after being told that progression and wife Synita embarked on the betting shop staff. within the business wasn’t available trip of a lifetime to experience the The view of that Singaporean to him, Matt joined Ladbrokes and Emirates Singapore Derby at Kranji sunset from 56 stories up is a worked initially in their Handsworth in July, courtesy of the Singapore memory that, he says, will stay with shop as cashier cum deputy Turf Club, his reward for being him forever. But there have been manager, working his way up to crowned Betting Shop Manager of plenty of other things that won’t shop manager, and then to the Year 2015. easily be forgotten during a multi-shop management where he He may have only backed the whirlwind of a year since the Lad- now oversees five shops. runner-up in the Singapore Derby, brokes employee landed the covet- Highlights during the ten but the trip itself was an all-round ed title and was handed the trophy months since he lifted the trophy winner.“It was non-stop,” he says. by England rugby international and have been plentiful, including a “With no time to waste, we went Question of Sport star Matt Dawson Channel 4 interview by Tanya straight out to explore the city. We at London’s Jumeirah Carlton Hotel Stevenson during Cheltenham’s visited the Marina Bay Sands Hotel, last November. International meeting in December, which has a viewing platform 56 “Still very hazy, to be and the opportunity to do some storeys up. Sipping Singapore Sling honest,” is his reply when asked for racecourse PR work alongside cocktails while watching the sun set his recollection of that stellar after- Ladbrokes’ Mike Dillon and David over the bay way truly noon. “From my name being Williams. breath-taking. announced, going up to receive the “I enjoyed that very much,” “On our final night there, we trophy, going back to the table, he says, “seeing how the brand walked part of the Formula 1 street Derek Thompson interviewing me, wants to be represented, and the circuit at midnight. From now on, photos with everyone, going round whole operation of getting the prices watching the Singapore Grand Prix the corner to the pub for a drink, over to Tanya and Tom (Lee) on will take on a new resonance. then before I knew it I was lying Channel 4. It’s about getting your “A couple of weeks after down on the hotel bed and – message across first and foremost. arriving back in Birmingham, I was whoosh – it had all gone by so “I worked at Chester’s May brought down to earth one Sunday quickly.” festival, York’s Dante meeting and morning. I was putting up the papers Back in the north-eastern saw racing from a different aspect – I displaying the form for Kranji, rather suburbs of Birmingham where he wouldn’t really class it as work. than being there in person. It was a oversees five Ladbrokes shops, there “I went to the Racing Post bit of a difference! “ http://bos.mannybernstein.co.uk BOS Magazine - October 2016 Page 38 He’s been a man in demand a customer likes having a bet on the responds. “There will be a lot of all year, working on various projects dogs, try to have a conversation people along the way giving you within Ladbrokes, recalling his with him about greyhounds, no advice, but I think if you take on too experience in winning the title and matter how basic it might be. If it’s much information, when you what he’d learned from it. horses, what’s the big race of the answer a question, you may answer “Winning it probably made day? It really helps if you can show it in a way that’s not natural to me realise how passionate I am some interaction with the customer yourself. about the job,” he reflects. “I’ll that’s tailored to their particular “I didn’t try to polish myself to always give anything a go and if I interest, rather than just a general be a slick professional; I stayed true don’t succeed first time, I’ll take conversation.” to myself. As long as you remain stock of what I did well, what I As he enters the last weeks true to yourself and to your didn’t do so well, and how easily it of his reign, what advice does Matt personality, every answer you can be rectified for me to perform have for those managers deliver will be in your style, and better the next time. I don’t like seeking to step into his shoes, those that’s what’s important.” having a failure next to my name, so who make it through to the final I’ll try harder to get results one way round of judging in this year’s The Racing Post/SIS Betting Shop or another, so I can get a tick next to Racing Post/SIS Betting Shop Manager of the Year 2016 takes my name instead. Manager of the Year? place on November 21 at the “Being a good betting shop “Try to remain as close to Jumeirah Carlton Hotel in London. manager is about the interaction. If your personality as possible,” he Book review by Chris Pitt

Definitive work on unearth the facts but, fortunately to be the St Leger’s “golden age”. for the reader, he also knows how That question is open to world’s oldest Classic to impart the information, bringing interpretation and matters of something original to each page in opinion. What is not in doubt, The St Leger: A History of the an entertaining way that is easy to however, is that this book is the World’s First Classic Horserace, by read, straightforward to follow and definitive work on the world’s first Tony Barber capable of sustaining interest Classic horserace.

throughout. Retailing at £75, it is not cheap but The last book to chart a The book is divided into six sections, on this occasion you get what you comprehensive history of the St each covering specific periods, pay for: a high-quality publication of Leger Stakes was published in 1926. charting the history of racing at over 500 pages, containing more That was 90 years ago and much has Doncaster before the St Leger and than 300 illustrations, most of which happened since then, hence there is the “mysteries surrounding the have not been seen by the wider plenty of new material into which birth of the world’s oldest Classic”, public. It is a limited edition of 800 an author may delve for their the race’s inauguration, its rise to copies, each one signed by the research. With this offering, Tony prominence and its “troubled times” author. Barber has unearthed a plethora of of the 1830s and ’40s, its hitherto untapped historical sources It will make an excellent ‘special redemption, taking the race up to to come up with a compelling occasion’ gift for any lover of the Great War, the inter-war period, history the last Classic of the horseracing history. post-war competition that led to season. falling attendances, and how the The St Leger: A History of the Raised in a village near Doncaster, race set about reversing its ailing World’s First Classic Horserace, by the race was ingrained in the author status, while being increasingly Tony Barber, is published by Racing from an early age when he overshadowed by other emergent Post Books, costs £75, and is only accompanied his family on their autumn contests. available from the Racing Post via annual pilgrimages to the St Leger. its website www.racingpost.com/ In conclusion, the author asks the As a respected historian, he could shop or by phone on 01933 340858 readers what they would consider be expected to know how to (Mon-Fri 9am to 5pm). http://bos.mannybernstein.co.uk BOS Magazine - October 2016 Page 39 Leicester win right result for Wales bookie

Indeed, it was only after Eden Haz- almost like the actual game was a ard’s late equaliser for Chelsea secondary event before the main against Tottenham on that second part. night of May, making it impossible “I was also at the last game of for Leicester to be caught, that he the season at Chelsea with my son. himself began to think it was possi- A friend who’s a Chelsea season ble. ticket holder got me two tickets but, LEICESTER CITY WINNING the Prem- “I couldn’t let myself believe obviously, we were sat amongst all ier League is the most remarkable before it was certain,” he reflects. the Chelsea fans. I’ve never had so story in the history of the competi- “When you’ve been supporting many people shake my hand. I said tion, if not football as a whole. This Leicester as long as I have, it’s just a to my friend, ‘Normally when I most unlikely of all triumphs will matter of when the wheels will fall come here you’re trying to shake long be remembered by both fans off – not ‘will they?’ but ‘when will me by the throat!’ I suppose they and bookmakers alike. For fans it they?’ – and yet it just never hap- were just glad Arsenal or Tottenham was elation, while some of the ma- pened this time.” hadn’t won the title.” jor firms shed tears – of the croco- He’d watched the Chelsea v He wasn’t there for the club’s dile variety, perhaps – in estimating Spurs game at a friend’s house – a Monday night victory parade in the their losses. West Ham fan. “I didn’t want to open-top bus because he was busy One bookmaker who certainly watch it at home,” he recalls. teaching at school and then working wasn’t complaining was Sean Payne “At half time Spurs were two- behind the betting shop counter, of Llandrindod Wells independent nil up and coasting. I said to my but he watched it on TV. SP Racing, who combines being the friend ‘I’m wasting my time here; “There must have been two- town’s bookie with teaching maths Spurs are going to take them apart’. thirds of the city’s population pre- at the local high school and working But when Chelsea got their first sent,” he reckons, “which is mad- with autistic children. And no won- goal, Spurs just imploded. It was bi- ness when you think about it. der, for he was born and bred in zarre because they’d gone from “It’s got to be the greatest Leicester and has supported the playing beautiful, flowing football to football underdog story ever, I city’s football club since the age of trying to kick Chelsea off the park. would suggest, and it must have six. And when Eden Hazard scored that brought more people in to having a As BOS Magazine discovered second goal in the eighty-third mi- bet on football than any other single when profiling SP Racing in its Sep- nute, well, I just screamed. event last year. tember/October 2015 edition, the “It was funny because my “It’s interesting because I association with Leicester City is ap- friend’s wife came in and said ‘Don’t heard some pundits saying it was a parent even before you step inside worry, Sean, I’ve already been next sub-standard Premier League sea- the shop. Spot the fox’s head from door to apologise to the neigh- son and that’s why Leicester won it. the club’s logo woven into the SP bours’! What those people seem to forget is Racing sign above the door. Venture “I never once thought I would that we won it by ten clear points. indoors and you’ll find a variety of ever see anything like that in my We didn’t just crawl over the line Leicester City ephemera adorning lifetime. I thought we were always and sneak it by a point, we won it by the walls. going to be the yo-yo team that ten – that’s three victories and a That your BOS reporter’s visit would have a couple of good sea- draw more than anyone else. I think was a prescient one is beyond sons, get relegated, then back up they’re doing us a disservice saying doubt. Almost six months after the again a couple of years later for a it was a poor Premier League sea- least predictable result in Premier season or two. That’s what I son, and I think the vast majority of League – no, let’s be honest, any thought our history was about. football fans out there were cheer- league – history, Sean is still basking “It was just brilliant. I could ing Leicester on.” in the glory of his home team’s tri- never have imagined it happening. They weren’t the only ones. umph. “I went to the last home game The general public’s penchant for Perhaps unsurprisingly, given against Everton (by which time the supporting an underdog resulted in the location of the mid-Wales Premiership title had been secured). many thousands of people with betting shop, Sean didn’t lay any They presented the trophy after the little previous interest in football bets on Leicester winning the title. game. It was strange because it was becoming embroiled in the Premier http://bos.mannybernstein.co.uk BOS Magazine - October 2016 Page 40 them, Sean regards himself as “a bit anyone except N’Golo Kante (signed of a traditionalist” when it comes to for £30 million by Chelsea) to the football. bigger clubs, which indicates that “I understand things can’t stay the players believe there’s still and you’ve got to move with the something special building there. times,” he observes, “but I’ve never Arsenal put an offer in for Jamie been convinced that these new Vardy but he turned it down to stay stadia offer the same kind of where he was. They say you don’t atmosphere.” turn down Arsenal, but he did. That The Filbert Street ground of his said a lot and it’s a sign of how far childhood years has long since been we’ve come.” demolished. Now, a hundred yards And then there’s Europe, of away on the other side of the power course. Sean is already making plans station, lies the gleaming all-seater for himself and his son to head to King Power Stadium, formerly Denmark for the FC Copenhagen SP’s Sean Payne Walkers Stadium when the Leicester game on November 2. League title battle that dispelled the crisp manufacturers were the club’s “It may never happen again,” post-Christmas blues, enlivened the sponsor. he says. “A part of me thinks we’ll months of late winter and carried King Power Stadium is the definitely qualify for the next round over into spring, cheering on the future but what about the future of so maybe we should try to do a team which almost everybody, it its club? game after we’ve qualified, but on seemed, wanted to win. Responds Sean: “We’ve made some the off-chance we don’t qualify, I Having spent much of his good signings (including Algerian wouldn’t want to miss the youth on the terraces at Filbert international Islam Slimani for £25.5 opportunity.” Street, hanging his legs over the side million from Sporting Lisbon) but, of the wall in case the ball struck more importantly, we didn’t lose Betway steps up sponsorship in Belgium

Online bookmaker Betway has 32 matches on 20 and with the Belgian Cup is an excellent signed two landmark sponsorship 21 September. platform to introduce our brand deals within Belgian football to The two agreements come just across all football supporters in boost its sponsorship presence in weeks after the bookmaker Belgium. We look forward building the country. extended its principal sponsorship up the excitement from the early Betway has signed an agreement deal with the English Premier round games all the way to the final with RSC Anderlecht, as well as a League’s West Ham United through in Brussels.” wider deal with the Belgian FA and to the 2019/2020 season, following Francois De Keersmaecker, Pro League that will see the the club’s move into their new president of the Belgian Football company become the official home, the London Stadium. Association added: “The Croky Cup betting partner of the historic Croky Betway’s Anthony Workman said of is the fastest road to European Cup, the country’s principal cup the agreement with the 33-time football qualification in Belgium, competition. Belgian champions: “We are proud and the arrival of Betway as a As part of the three-year betting and thrilled to become the betting partner of this competition proves partnership deal with RSC partner of RSC Anderlecht. The club its continuing growth and success.” Anderlecht, Betway, who launched has a rich, hugely successful history, The Croky Cup is the premier in Belgium in September 2015, will and we see this partnership as an knockout cup competition in receive in-stadium branding with opportunity to bring supporters Belgian football and was first held in the 33-time Belgian Pro League even closer to Anderlecht and the 1911. Club Brugge have won the champions. excitement of the Pro League.” competition a record 11 times but The betting partnership agreement Speaking of the landmark deal with were beaten in last year’s final by with the Belgian FA and top-flight the Belgian FA and Pro League, Standard Liege. Pro League began with the round of Workman added: “The partnership http://bos.mannybernstein.co.uk BOS Magazine - October 2016 Page 41