SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
Speaking on Newstalk’s ‘Breakfast Business’ show, Mark O’Neil Chief Financial Officer of Irish independent bookmaker Boylesports stated his firm’s intent on growing its UK retail network.
O’Neil detailed that despite losing its bid to takeover Ladbrokes-Coral merger betting shop ‘offcuts’ which would have given his firm a ‘solid retail platform’, BoyleSports will move to pursue its long awaited plans of expanding its retail betting services in the saturated UK market.
At present, Boylesports Ireland’s second largest bookmaker behind Paddy Power, operates 200 retail points throughout its Irish home. However, CEO and Founder John Boyle has continually detailed to stakeholders the importance of growing the firm’s presence in its neighbouring UK market.
As CFO, O’Neil backs John Boyle’s comments stating that UK retail expansion is now a ‘reality for the business’. O’Neil and Boylesports governance are now eyeing ‘active regional opportunities’.
Coming back from The Cheltenham Festival a crucial period for bookmakers, O’Neil states that Boylesports governance will seek to open 20-25 betting stores by the end of 2017.
“We are looking for the right opportunities that will offer us scale, not just taking over two or three stores, but looking at cities and areas that will allow us to build a network and brand presence with a minimum of twenty to twenty-five stores”.
