Revamped Betting Shops Attract New Market

UNITED KINGDOM – As reported by the Edinburgh News: "Not long ago, betting shops were dark, dingy dens with a seedy aura. Typically windowless, smoky and cramped, they were seen as hideaways for punters after a stealthy flutter.

"But gambling has undergone a facelift and bookmakers are now more likely to be fronted by gleaming glass facades, with trendy coffee bars and air conditioning within. Instead of remaining exclusively male bastions, women are increasingly being drawn by the more glamorous image.

"And it's all being reflected in the bank balances of the betting companies. Meanwhile, online betting is booming.

"…So what is fuelling this surge in the popularity of betting?

"A spokeswoman for Stanley Leisure says it is partly due to the introduction just over a year ago of fixed odds betting terminals.

"'New machines called FOBTs have proved very popular and those are what have been driving the growth recently,' she says.

"… The Stanley spokeswoman says other factors include more choice of betting products, a change in taxation and a general shift in the industry, to make it more appealing to more potential betters…"