PartialLogo
News

Course hails 'fabulous day' as pool betting operation Bet With Ascot is launched

Ascot launched its new pool betting operation on Friday
Ascot launched its new pool betting operation on FridayCredit: Ian Headington

Executives at Ascot were expecting the real test of their new pool betting operation to come on Saturday but described themselves as very happy with the first day of operation of Bet With Ascot.

Friday was the first day after Betfred had lost their exclusive licence to operate pool betting in Britain through Totepool.

Britbet, a project created by 55 of Britain's racecourses, had been expected to launch a rival service, but that has been put on hold to allow talks between the two sides to investigate whether they can join forces.

However, Ascot chose not to join their fellow tracks and instead formed Bet With Ascot in collaboration with Totepool, a venture that was launched on Friday.

The former Totepool betting outlets were rebranded, while new screens displaying data, including information provided by the Racing Post, have also been installed.

Racegoers were informed of the 'Bet With Ascot returns', which were identical to Tote returns for Ascot from bets placed elsewhere.

Ascot's chief operating officer Alastair Warwick, who is also managing director of the new operation, said: "We've had a fabulous day and technically there have been no issues. Our new staff have been brilliant, everybody loves the branding and everybody loves the screens.

'Staff have been brilliant'

"You watch people on the concourse looking at the information and they are really using the screens.

"From our point of view it is something to build on. The crowd is not huge today, the proper test is tomorrow, but everybody seems to love it."

Matters were lower key at Newmarket and York where Britbet employees staffed the Totepool desks, but the project's leadership were happy with how things had gone.

Britbet's managing director Nigel Roddis said: "It’s been a good day and a step forward in terms of our racecourses' ambitions to control the pool betting outlets on course. I’d like to thank the staff, who have had to endure some uncertainty in recent weeks.

"We were able to provide them with some clarity today and the link with racecourses will be crucial in delivering on our service aspirations.

"We will now look to roll out some of our planned investments on to racecourses, such as new screen systems and betting hardware, which will provide further progress."

Other changes at Newmarket and York included the opening of William Hill betting shops that replaced those previously run by Betfred.

Hills have taken over shops on 34 racecourses and now operate on 41 tracks in total.


Members can read the latest exclusive interviews, news analysis and comment available from 6pm daily on racingpost.com

Bill BarberIndustry editor

Published on 13 July 2018inNews

Last updated 19:19, 13 July 2018

iconCopy