Ladbrokes Coral look to future of high street with new 'concept' betting shops

Ladbrokes Coral have opened the second of two "concept" betting shops, which the operator believes will demonstrate the future of high street gambling.

The Ladbrokes betting office was opened on Stephenson Street in Birmingham on Thursday after the unveiling of a new Coral shop at Warren Street earlier in December.

Britain's betting shop sector has been put under huge pressure by the government's decision to cut maximum stakes on FOBTs to £2 from £100, a move which has led to more than 1,100 betting shops closing since it was implemented on April 1.

The new outlets have been modernised to provide a more digital experience, with the shops having a number of new self-service betting terminals.

They also feature a number of Racing Post products including a new sports screen, the latest interactive version of the digital betting shop display and a "departure board" showing the next races supported by the Racing Post verdict.

Ladbrokes Coral's strategy and business development director for UK retail Bejay Patel said: “We are really excited to unveil our new Coral shop concept at Warren Street. The new concept shop has pushed the boundaries in terms of design whilst incorporating some of our latest technology, to create an enhanced experience for our existing customers whilst also appealing to a new generation of customers.

"The Coral new concept shop went live on December 10 and we have already had a terrific response from customers, our shop team are taking great pride in showcasing it to everyone who comes through the door.

"Yesterday we opened our Ladbrokes new concept shop in Stephenson Street, Birmingham, which is next to New Street Station, and look forward to seeing how our Ladbrokes customers react to the new experience we’ve created."

The new Racing Post sports screen provides a combination of key statistics and tips throughout the sporting day.

Racing Post group sports director Ben Clissitt added: "It's extremely exciting to be providing Ladbrokes Coral with bet prompting information and tips in-store.

"The new concept shops are really striking, welcoming spaces. We know that sports betting is on the rise and it's great that we are able to provide engaging context and insight to sports bettors in the same way that we do for racing punters."

Responsible gambling measures have also been introduced to the shops, including facial recognition software.

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