William Hill has announced a new five year betting shop deal with the Jockey Club Racecourses (JCR), which will see the bookmaker commence retail operations at JCR’s portfolio of racecourses.
The agreement will see deployment across all 15 JCR tracks, with provisions of a high street betting shop experience to stretch to a minimum of 31 on-course facilities.
Succeeding current partner Betfred as exclusive betting shop provider, the only exception is at Cheltenham, where at least six facilities are to be operated alongside the existing Star Sports and The Winning Post shops.
Dickon White, Group Betting Director, Jockey Club Racecourses, commented: “I’m really pleased that we have reached agreement with William Hill to provide a comprehensive retail service to our customers across all 15 of The Jockey Club’s racecourses.
“They have proved an excellent partner in other areas over time and provided a compelling five-year offer through a competitive process.”
Serving almost two millions racegoers a year across 348 fixtures, the JCR also details is has worked with six independent racecourses to help to coordinate their on-course betting shop rights.
As a result William Hill is to also operate retail outlets at Leicester, Newton Abbot, Plumpton, Salisbury, Stratford and Taunton over the same period.
Pat Masterson, Managing Director of Newton Abbot Races, added: “On behalf of the six independent racecourses we are delighted to team up with William Hill and very much look forward to a successful partnership for the next five years.”
JCR’s 15 racecourses where William Hill will operate are: Aintree, Carlisle, Cheltenham, Epsom Downs, Exeter, Haydock Park, Huntingdon, Kempton Park, Market Rasen, Newmarket July Course, Newmarket Rowley Mile, Nottingham, Sandown Park, Warwick and Wincanton.
“We are delighted to reach this landmark agreement with Jockey Club Racecourses. William Hill shares The Jockey Club’s vision and passion for horseracing and we believe this will be a formidable partnership that will benefit the sport of horseracing for years to come,” said Steven White, William Hill’s Divisional Director.