Sports betting slow to recover as bookmakers adapt after lockdown

Sports betting is lagging behind gambling on Fixed Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs) in UK betting shops as bookmakers adjust to a new landscape following the coronavirus pandemic.

While larger and independent chains are reporting strong bounceback for punters using FOBTs, over-the-counter bets on products such as horseracing remain below their pre-lockdown level.

Greg Knight, managing director of JenningsBet, said: “It varies geographically. Levels in London are back to where they were, and that might be down to the demographic of people there and what they focus on. Elsewhere, though, we’re definitely down on slippage, although the machines are pretty level to where they were before.