Betting Show future in jeopardy after exodus
THE future of the bookmaking industry’s annual shop window, the Betting Show, has been thrown into doubt by the exit of three of the biggest exhibitors from this year’s event, due to be held at the NEC Birmingham from October 14-15.
Betting-shop services provider Alphameric started the pull-out, taking with it the associated live-pictures broadcaster TurfTV.
SIS has subsequently followed suit, while executives at management software provider Finsoft are understood to be seriously considering whether to attend the show.
The decisions by Alphameric, TurfTV and SIS to quit the show take out three major attractions for betting operators, and will leave a huge gap in the organisers’ floor space and budget.
Alphameric sales director Michael Conlon blamed the economic downturn and falling interest for his company’s decision.
He said: “I’ve been going to the show for ten years, and there’s been less and less business done. We believe we can spend our money in better ways for our customers.”
Conlon, who is based in Ireland, added: “For Irish bookmakers in particular these are difficult times, especially with the two per cent tax coming next month.
“We have already frozen our prices for this year, so we’ll pass on the money we save from not going to the show to our customers in other says, with offers to the independents, for example.”
SIS began exhibiting at the Betting Show’s predecessor, the Bookmakers’ Show, when the first live-pictures service for high street shops was created in 1987, but chief executive David Holdgate explained: “It’s lost its edge, and we won’t be taking part this year.”
The Betting Show suffered an earlier setback when event director Karen Cooke left organiser Clarion Gaming last month to set up her own conference and events business.
