The traditional betting shop is the heart of the betting industry in the UK since it was first legalized in the 60’s early on, and without them, the online world of betting would not have the status it has now. In the eyes of many people, these bookies weren’t just places to bet, they were places to hang out with acquaintances and to be a social gathering point. If you wanted to bet (legally) in the bookie on the main street was the best place to go.
The History of the High Street Betting Shop
The first betting stores opened their doors in 1961. This happened after Harold Macmillan passed a law to legalise bookmakers near me to combat the many illegal gambling venues across the country.
The business exploded, with 10,000 opening shops within the first 6 months, and the market grew within a short amount of time. At its peak, around 16,000 betting shops on the high street were found across the UK But the introduction internet-based betting saw this figure decline to a mere half and is continuing to shrink.
Although bookmakers in the high street might be struggling, it’s not a fair reflection on the gambling industry as a whole. In 2009, the UK economy plunged into recession, with many high-street shops closing and town’s centre is being threatened with becoming ghost towns. Whilst this certainly had an impact on bookmakers in the high street but in a more circular way it provided them with some relief. In an effort to revitalize high street shopping, the government allowed bookmakers to take up residence in buildings that were not used for up to two years without approval from the planning department. Whilst a short term solution however, it opens the door for the high bookmaker to return to the high streets of Britain.
High Street Bookmaker Distribution and Density
It’s not surprising to learn that there’s an association between the locations of book stores and those with lower levels of employment, higher benefit levels, and a weak income base. Bookmakers target these places as they know they’re going to attract a higher number of patrons to their shops.
In support of this, the entire region area of Tyneside includes more booksellers per square meter than the entire area of London and some of its surrounding boroughs, and a high street in Newham has the highest number of bookmakers in a single street in the UK between 18 and. In cities and other more affluent areas, bookmakers tend be scarcer.
Do High Street Bookies Still Have A Place in Modern Day Betting?
The statistics certainly suggest not. A drop in the number of high-street bookmakers of almost 50% from their peak, and an economy showing few signs of turnaround anytime soon certainly don’t make a difference. The rise of online gambling websites is likely to be another nail to the coffin.
It’s not all doom & despair for the gambler, nevertheless, betting online sites are so easy to access as you can bet from any location in the world at just the touch of one button. This also means that bookmakers have less expenses as they don’t need to fund for maintenance on several shops. This will theoretically trickle through to their betting sites where they are able to offer better odds and better betting specials, which again will benefit the gamblers.
To conclude, it isn’t looking good for bookmakers on the high street. It’s a sector – and one of many experiencing major transformations. On the flip side, though betting overall is probably seeing its biggest rise since the introduction of betting shops, and is about to take the next phase of expansion of bookmaking as we have it today.
So then, why Do People Bet Continually In High-Street Bookies?
We all remember the past when the only option to place a bet other than at the racetrack, was your local high-street bookies. Since the advent of online betting, lots of punters are now betting from home, or even when they’re out and about thanks to the advancements in mobile technology so that raises the question of why anybody remains a bookmaker at the high street?
You can hide your bets from your Partner
There’s no way around the fact that some people do not like their spouses to gamble, and force those who gamble to the bookies of the high street where they’re frequently left out of bonus odds or the delicious discounts offered by bookies to customers who are online. If that’s your reason for betting on the high street, you might want to consider following the recommendations of one or more of the most successful Betting Gods’ experts, because that will result in funds in your account in the long-term – and a smile on your spouse’s face.
Friendly Banter
If you’re one of the people who prefer to go down to the local pub for a drink or a chat with your buddies instead of staying at home and drinking, then an afternoon in the bookies probably has the same attraction. Although online betting provides numerous options, sometimes having a betting session in the bookies can be a fantastic opportunity to spend time with your buddies, particularly if there’s a pub close by, too.
Beginning to Take Early Prices
Sometimes, a visit to the bookies is worth the effort though in that it’s easier to secure the early price of some of the big high-street book stores. William Hill are often the most generous in that regard and will often hold the price of the horse for a specified amount of time in order for customers to bet. There are some limitations that may be in place but, of course there’s no stopping placing a bet on a selection online and at the bookies.
Accounts Shut
If you ask the most professional punters about their betting habits in the bookies of the high street Most often, the answer will be that they’ve experienced an online account shut down because it was not enough successful, but they are determined to find the highest odds possible and nothing is too much for the professional punter!
Spreading The Load
It doesn’t matter if you’re an experienced punter on your own or are winning thanks to one or more or more Betting Gods tipsters, it’s generally a good idea to share the burden by dividing your bets between bookies. The smaller stakes you place in a greater number of bookies will mean that your achievements won’t be noticed and also reduces the possibility of having limits placed on your account, or even having them closed for good. High street bookies are always worth a look in this manner.
