03
Editor ’ s Letter
Mapping the future course
Questions ? Comments ?
stephen . carter @ clariongaming . com
Welcome to iGB ’ s first-ever report for Clarion Gaming ’ s ICE 365 content series , focused on European sports betting .
While by the time of writing HM Government had confirmed that the retail betting sector would be allowed to reopen its doors to punters from 12 April , it will be doing so amid its ongoing contraction , or as some commentators have suggested , “ right-sizing ” by the double whammy of the B2 machine stake cap and the pandemic .
What will now become clear relatively quickly is whether the last two GB lockdowns have fundamentally altered betting and gaming behaviour among consumers , given the ostensibly greater potential for migration online compared to the first lockdown due to the availability of a full calendar of live sports to bet on .
The imminent sale of the operator of the largest retail estate , William Hill , to Caesars
Entertainment is also to set to further confuse the sector outlook , with the US casino group yet to reveal its plans for the bookmaker ’ s remaining 1,400 shops .
This report analyses what the publicly available data tells us about the current state of play and defining trends for the sector , and also speaks to stakeholders and analysts about where they see it headed once the short-term uncertainty over reopening restrictions , consumer behaviour and other factors has been resolved .
The way forward though , as author Scott Longley writes , does appear clear – to ensure their future , betting shops need to be venues that consumers wish to return to time and time again regardless of what is happening on the rest of the high street .
Stephen Carter Editorial director , iGB
British retail betting report Written by Clear Concise Media
Published April 2021 © 2021 iGaming Business Ltd All rights reserved . No part of this publication maybe reproduced , stored in a retrieval system , or transmitted in any form or by any means , electronic , mechanical , photocopying , recording or otherwise without the permission of the publisher . The information contained in this publication is believed to be correct at the time of going to press . While care has been taken to ensure that the information is accurate , the publishers can accept no responsibility for any errors or omissions or for changes to the details given . Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements , including forecasts , are not guarantees of future performance or results and involve risks and uncertainties that cannot be predicted or quantified . Consequently , the actual performance of companies mentioned in this report and the industry as a whole may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements .
Author : Scott Longley Editors : Stephen Carter and Joanne Christie Design : Ogo Ikeogu Published by iGaming Business , part of Clarion Events . Registered office : Bedford House , 69-79 Fulham High St , London SW6 3JW . Tel : + 44 ( 0 ) 207 384 7763 Registered number : 3934419
April 2021