Anyone form England? go and use those betting shops that are all around. Question

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  • trytrytry
    SBR Posting Legend
    • 03-13-06
    • 23650

    #1
    Anyone form England? go and use those betting shops that are all around. Question
    Anyone form England? anyone familiar with the various betting shops that are all around. Question for you then

    in the major cities the couple times Ive been in Scotland or england Ive been inside the wagering shops, made some wagers on the horses, some soccer. usually narrow, small, poor TVs and poor quality, low overhead places, nothing to eat, drink, no comfortable place to really sit, some empty totally or very full . very little atmosphere.


    My question is do any exist that are actually sportsbooks settings? bar like, restaurants, or "nicer" places to hang out and watch the races, or games? if so how do you find them? sort of a nice OTB experience or sportsbook experience anyplace??

    thanks
  • semibluff
    SBR MVP
    • 04-12-16
    • 1515

    #2
    Originally posted by trytrytry
    Anyone form England? anyone familiar with the various betting shops that are all around. Question for you then

    in the major cities the couple times Ive been in Scotland or england Ive been inside the wagering shops, made some wagers on the horses, some soccer. usually narrow, small, poor TVs and poor quality, low overhead places, nothing to eat, drink, no comfortable place to really sit, some empty totally or very full . very little atmosphere.


    My question is do any exist that are actually sportsbooks settings? bar like, restaurants, or "nicer" places to hang out and watch the races, or games? if so how do you find them? sort of a nice OTB experience or sportsbook experience anyplace??

    thanks
    No. They don't exist. UK licencing laws preclude betting shops from providing the services you mention. When I worked in the industry the Area Office was always on the look-out for potential sites that were located near pubs, newsagents, coffee shops, etc because we weren't allowed to sell refreshments, (officially).
    Comment
    • trytrytry
      SBR Posting Legend
      • 03-13-06
      • 23650

      #3
      thats incredible.

      OK thanks for that info!!!!

      do the racetracks not open that day have open OTB wagering? or if not running are they shut down totally?
      Comment
      • semibluff
        SBR MVP
        • 04-12-16
        • 1515

        #4
        Originally posted by trytrytry
        thats incredible.

        OK thanks for that info!!!!

        do the racetracks not open that day have open OTB wagering? or if not running are they shut down totally?
        Racetracks are a totally different proposition. Racetracks are allowed to have bars, restaurants, etc. They have totaliser betting on their own races and they licence independent bookies to offer fixed odds on the races there. What they don't have are shops on site that cater for bets on other races/events. There are historical reasons for this. Until the 1990s the UK Government taxed all bets at source. This meant you either paid a 10% 'tax' when you placed your wager or 10% was deducted from any non-push returns. Racetracks were exempt from this betting tax. Thus if placed a wager at a betting shop at a racetrack you could in theory claim the winnings later off course from any betting shop from the group. The potential for tax avoidance was huge so shops and big chain books were barred. To get around this big books bought up the smaller independents who had track licences. Everyone knew the score. I worked for Coral. We traded on track as Heathorns but everyone knew we were Coral.

        Horse racing tracks are only open on a very limited number of days. On a non-racing day the track isn't open to the public. There's not really any need as the 'tax' was lifted many years ago. Books are now taxed like other businesses.
        Comment
        • trytrytry
          SBR Posting Legend
          • 03-13-06
          • 23650

          #5
          very interesting thanks
          Comment
          • packerd_00
            SBR Posting Legend
            • 05-22-13
            • 17811

            #6
            I've not come across any myself,every William Hill or Labrokes ive come across on the high streets are the same.
            Comment
            • Mr. Teaser
              SBR MVP
              • 08-16-09
              • 1668

              #7
              In London they all seem to be the same. I seem to recall in Italy there were some nice ones.
              Comment
              • KVB
                SBR Aristocracy
                • 05-29-14
                • 74817

                #8
                Originally posted by semibluff
                No. They don't exist. UK licencing laws preclude betting shops from providing the services you mention. When I worked in the industry the Area Office was always on the look-out for potential sites that were located near pubs, newsagents, coffee shops, etc because we weren't allowed to sell refreshments, (officially).
                Wow, that's interesting.
                Comment
                • moojoo
                  SBR Wise Guy
                  • 09-02-16
                  • 938

                  #9
                  Around Europe you have shops where they have bar and you can order coffee or some drink. In England not.
                  Comment
                  • pimike
                    BARRELED IN @ SBR!
                    • 03-23-08
                    • 37140

                    #10
                    They are set up not to attract a crowd . Not the higher class anyways. I was like wow there’s a William Hill. But it looked like a peep show building. Lol

                    Not very inviting .
                    Comment
                    • 5mike5
                      SBR Aristocracy
                      • 09-21-11
                      • 52029

                      #11
                      Hey bluff

                      U know shaunovery from working at corral?
                      Comment
                      • Optional
                        Administrator
                        • 06-10-10
                        • 61625

                        #12
                        In Australia just about every pub and licensed club has a race/sportsbook area with TVs and a TAB terminal.

                        I'd bet over 80% of the population has somewhere to buy a cheap meal, a beer and have a bet within 5 miles of home.
                        .
                        Comment
                        • semibluff
                          SBR MVP
                          • 04-12-16
                          • 1515

                          #13
                          Originally posted by 5mike5
                          Hey bluff

                          U know shaunovery from working at corral?
                          I don't know him personally. He was the 1st person on SBR i sent a pm to once i had 40 posts. He said he had worked in London for Coral and I wondered if we had met or worked any of the same areas. Apparently not. He worked in Central London and I was in East London. For what it's worth I started off in the racing room at Glebe House in Barking, (I guess its what would be called the Sportsbook). I did get to spend 2 days assisting for Heathorns at Lingfield Park before it became an all-weather track. I moved on to managing shops and was dc for the Dagenham area. I was sad to see shaunovery go, particularly under that betpoint cloud. From what I recall he was upset by the "Is 'YOU' the biggest stiff" thread.
                          Comment
                          • semibluff
                            SBR MVP
                            • 04-12-16
                            • 1515

                            #14
                            Originally posted by pimike
                            They are set up not to attract a crowd . Not the higher class anyways. I was like wow there’s a William Hill. But it looked like a peep show building. Lol

                            Not very inviting .
                            Again, this is a UK licencing regulation. The public must not be able to see into a betting shop and see people winning or enjoying themselves. I kid you not!
                            Comment
                            • Optional
                              Administrator
                              • 06-10-10
                              • 61625

                              #15
                              Originally posted by semibluff
                              I was sad to see shaunovery go, particularly under that betpoint cloud. From what I recall he was upset by the "Is 'YOU' the biggest stiff" thread.
                              Plenty of people contacted him and explained how that joke worked.

                              He was just using it as a convenient excuse to avoid all the points bets he had made on Beat The Prick.

                              He had stiffed me over 130 quid 4 or 5 years ago too. Guy was so tight fisted he could not even trust himself when it came to paying debts at a guess.
                              .
                              Comment
                              • semibluff
                                SBR MVP
                                • 04-12-16
                                • 1515

                                #16
                                Originally posted by Optional
                                Plenty of people contacted him and explained how that joke worked.

                                He was just using it as a convenient excuse to avoid all the points bets he had made on Beat The Prick.

                                He had stiffed me over 130 quid 4 or 5 years ago too. Guy was so tight fisted he could not even trust himself when it came to paying debts at a guess.
                                Doesn't shock me. Show me a Coral betting shop manager and i'll show you a sneaky devious bastard. lol.
                                That 'leaving' reasoning looked weak at best.
                                Comment
                                • SportsMushroom
                                  SBR MVP
                                  • 09-28-10
                                  • 4177

                                  #17
                                  im in gibraltar right now, its part of the united kingdom, but has different laws

                                  so here there is a sports bar at the local casino


                                  its pretty good, lots of tvs. giant screens inside and outside. selfservice terminals for betting sports and horses, pool, poker machines/roulette and they serve alchohol and decent food

                                  Log into Facebook to start sharing and connecting with your friends, family, and people you know.




                                  will be spending some time there during the world cup
                                  Comment
                                  • 5mike5
                                    SBR Aristocracy
                                    • 09-21-11
                                    • 52029

                                    #18
                                    Originally posted by semibluff
                                    Doesn't shock me. Show me a Coral betting shop manager and i'll show you a sneaky devious bastard. lol.
                                    That 'leaving' reasoning looked weak at best.
                                    lol

                                    Yeah he had to find some excuse!
                                    Comment
                                    • packerd_00
                                      SBR Posting Legend
                                      • 05-22-13
                                      • 17811

                                      #19
                                      Originally posted by SportsMushroom
                                      im in gibraltar right now, its part of the united kingdom, but has different laws

                                      so here there is a sports bar at the local casino


                                      its pretty good, lots of tvs. giant screens inside and outside. selfservice terminals for betting sports and horses, pool, poker machines/roulette and they serve alchohol and decent food

                                      Log into Facebook to start sharing and connecting with your friends, family, and people you know.




                                      will be spending some time there during the world cup
                                      Gotta come check out Gibraltar and do some Gambling one of these days.Is their much going on their outside of the Gambling.
                                      Comment
                                      • jjgold
                                        SBR Aristocracy
                                        • 07-20-05
                                        • 388179

                                        #20
                                        australia has some decent betting parlors
                                        Comment
                                        • HeeeHAWWWW
                                          SBR Hall of Famer
                                          • 06-13-08
                                          • 5487

                                          #21
                                          Originally posted by SportsMushroom
                                          im in gibraltar right now, its part of the united kingdom, but has different laws
                                          Sorry to be a pedant :-) But Gib isn't in the UK, it's an overseas territory, like Bermuda, the Falklands, Caymans, Virgin Islands etc. Thus, as you say, different laws (the UK only handles external relations).

                                          Anyway, always liked it, been there quite a few times.
                                          Comment
                                          • pimike
                                            BARRELED IN @ SBR!
                                            • 03-23-08
                                            • 37140

                                            #22
                                            Originally posted by semibluff
                                            Again, this is a UK licencing regulation. The public must not be able to see into a betting shop and see people winning or enjoying themselves. I kid you not!
                                            Thanks for the explanation.
                                            Comment
                                            • Ralphie Halves
                                              SBR MVP
                                              • 12-13-09
                                              • 4507

                                              #23
                                              semi, do you still like it out there in Barking/Dagenham?? My sister/brother-in-law/nephews were there, but got out as soon as they could. Said not great for families. Foreigners pushing children out of their way on busses. Didn't like it anymore.
                                              Comment
                                              • El Terrible
                                                SBR MVP
                                                • 05-04-18
                                                • 1436

                                                #24
                                                Originally posted by trytrytry
                                                Anyone form England? anyone familiar with the various betting shops that are all around. Question for you then

                                                in the major cities the couple times Ive been in Scotland or england Ive been inside the wagering shops, made some wagers on the horses, some soccer. usually narrow, small, poor TVs and poor quality, low overhead places, nothing to eat, drink, no comfortable place to really sit, some empty totally or very full . very little atmosphere.


                                                My question is do any exist that are actually sportsbooks settings? bar like, restaurants, or "nicer" places to hang out and watch the races, or games? if so how do you find them? sort of a nice OTB experience or sportsbook experience anyplace??

                                                thanks
                                                There's a million you tubes about them

                                                Comment
                                                • SportsMushroom
                                                  SBR MVP
                                                  • 09-28-10
                                                  • 4177

                                                  #25
                                                  Originally posted by packerd_00
                                                  Gotta come check out Gibraltar and do some Gambling one of these days.Is their much going on their outside of the Gambling.

                                                  it has what you'd expect, shops and restaurants

                                                  not much going on as far as nightlife is concerned, but spain is right next door and i hear locals go there at night to have a good time

                                                  its really lively when there is a football/soccer game going on, pubs and restaurants jam packed, with multiple screens showing the game

                                                  world cup should be fun
                                                  Comment
                                                  • deltgen
                                                    SBR Wise Guy
                                                    • 12-31-10
                                                    • 865

                                                    #26
                                                    I'm glad I came across this thread. Thanks to the OP for the question, and thanks to semibluff for the explanation. England is my second-favorite country, and have been there a handful of times, and will again this fall, and every Ladbrokes I stepped in all reminded me of a peep show that another person compared it to. I always wondered why--now I know why and now I can stop looking for one with a bit more ambiance. Get in, buy my tickets, and move out.
                                                    Comment
                                                    • SportsMushroom
                                                      SBR MVP
                                                      • 09-28-10
                                                      • 4177

                                                      #27
                                                      Originally posted by HeeeHAWWWW
                                                      Sorry to be a pedant :-) But Gib isn't in the UK, it's an overseas territory, like Bermuda, the Falklands, Caymans, Virgin Islands etc. Thus, as you say, different laws (the UK only handles external relations).

                                                      Anyway, always liked it, been there quite a few times.

                                                      technically yes

                                                      but they did vote in the recent uk wide referendum on staying or leaving the eu, and even though they voted to stay at 97%, they are being dragged out along with the uk, so i guess they are kind of part of the uk

                                                      bermuda, falklands, caymands virgin islands etc didnt get a vote because they are overseas territory, so i guess maybe gibraltar is a bit more than overseas territory
                                                      Comment
                                                      • semibluff
                                                        SBR MVP
                                                        • 04-12-16
                                                        • 1515

                                                        #28
                                                        Originally posted by Ralphie Halves
                                                        semi, do you still like it out there in Barking/Dagenham?? My sister/brother-in-law/nephews were there, but got out as soon as they could. Said not great for families. Foreigners pushing children out of their way on busses. Didn't like it anymore.
                                                        I was born in Barking and was there until I was about 10. Fortunately my parents managed to move us all out. When I left school I worked there and the surrounding areas until I was 30. I moved to Bournemouth about 20 years ago. Barking and Dagenham are problem areas, and they've been that way since the 1960's. Basically successive governments herded immigrants into the area rather than spread them around elsewhere. You end up with poor communities competing for limited resources in housing and education. It started with people from India, then it was black people, then Muslims, and 20 years ago it was Eastern Europeans. In my lifetime it's always been an area people move out of when they can.

                                                        I'm picking on any of those minority groups or exalting the people who were there before. It's just bad politics and it's why people there end up voting for political extremists.
                                                        Comment
                                                        • El Terrible
                                                          SBR MVP
                                                          • 05-04-18
                                                          • 1436

                                                          #29
                                                          Originally posted by deltgen
                                                          I'm glad I came across this thread. Thanks to the OP for the question, and thanks to semibluff for the explanation. .
                                                          And what about me for posting that video?
                                                          Comment
                                                          • El Terrible
                                                            SBR MVP
                                                            • 05-04-18
                                                            • 1436

                                                            #30
                                                            I love the sportsbooks in Mexico. We go to one in Purto Vallarta quite often...Very elegant, great food and they kiss your ass
                                                            Comment
                                                            • packerd_00
                                                              SBR Posting Legend
                                                              • 05-22-13
                                                              • 17811

                                                              #31
                                                              Originally posted by SportsMushroom
                                                              it has what you'd expect, shops and restaurants

                                                              not much going on as far as nightlife is concerned, but spain is right next door and i hear locals go there at night to have a good time

                                                              its really lively when there is a football/soccer game going on, pubs and restaurants jam packed, with multiple screens showing the game

                                                              world cup should be fun
                                                              Sounds pretty awesome,surprised ive never gone.

                                                              Cheers bud,are you supporting England during the WC.
                                                              Comment
                                                              • rodneytrotter
                                                                SBR Hustler
                                                                • 10-21-11
                                                                • 89

                                                                #32
                                                                Originally posted by semibluff
                                                                . What they don't have are shops on site that cater for bets on other races/events.
                                                                There are shops on course which offer prices on all sporting events. However, in July Betfred are closing 49 of their 51 shops in July - I don't know if deals have been done to replace them.
                                                                Comment
                                                                • cankid
                                                                  SBR Hall of Famer
                                                                  • 08-22-08
                                                                  • 7227

                                                                  #33
                                                                  Originally posted by pimike
                                                                  They are set up not to attract a crowd . Not the higher class anyways. I was like wow there’s a William Hill. But it looked like a peep show building. Lol

                                                                  Not very inviting .

                                                                  I thought you liked peep shows
                                                                  Comment
                                                                  • semibluff
                                                                    SBR MVP
                                                                    • 04-12-16
                                                                    • 1515

                                                                    #34
                                                                    Originally posted by rodneytrotter
                                                                    There are shops on course which offer prices on all sporting events. However, in July Betfred are closing 49 of their 51 shops in July - I don't know if deals have been done to replace them.
                                                                    I stand corrected. It tells you how long it has been since I went to the races. With the abolition of the tax there was no good reason for there not to be shops, but having shops that are only open a few days a year without any form of advantage doesn't make economic sense.
                                                                    Comment
                                                                    • funnyb25
                                                                      BARRELED IN @ SBR!
                                                                      • 07-09-09
                                                                      • 39663

                                                                      #35
                                                                      Betpoint stiffs crack me up. Betpoints...really? lol
                                                                      Comment
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