a few minutes on the rapid decline of racecourse bookmakers

[@salsabil44]

Racing is in a really depressing state. Capitalism is supposed to be about free markets and open competition. But now we have a situation where bookmakers are using any excuse to close betting accounts - mostly never even revealed! and for many people like myself, effectively being barred from the very activity which attracted me to racing over 40 years ago. It´s like if Tesco barred customers from ever using their shops again because they only buy products on special offer! It´s just fucking insane what the bookmakers (I use the term loosely) are getting away with nowadays.

[@paulterry7672]

Very true the ring is dead and buried now no point in going racing from a punting point of view

[@andrewscott9064]

Yes there is no fun anymore going racing have you the option to shop around for the best price. That no longer exists. Long gone arrest the days when you fancied an outsider at 20’s and you could find a board offering 25’s on the backline or even 33’s. Then enjoyment has gone

[@pauljones5066]

Arb as a punter (not a bookmaker) is pretty hard these days, as a bookmakers its a piece of cake providing there are actually people at the races

[@Thanks_for_posting.]

Excellent podcast thanks for posting

[@sr6424]

It’s 40 years ago since I first started going to the races. I have noticed the decline. The minimum bet has hardly changed. In the 1980s there was great debate about but up the Tote minimum stake to £2 - it’s still £2 now. With inflation the minimum bet a rails bookmaker takes should be £50. A few years ago I went to Wolverhampton on a wet Saturday. I couldn’t see how some bookies were making a living.

[@Sussex_Seagull]

Comparing prices was half the fun. Now all boards show the same prices and it's easier to stay at home in the warm.

[@Isleofskye]

...and get better odds, not pay to enter the tracks, stay in the warm and have no travelling expenses or hassle.

[@AnthonyWilliams-ew3wp]

Betfair has made a lot of weak bookmakers brave.

[@davidthomas450]

You are right mr banks and I have been betting for 55 years , whenever we went racing we always got a competitive price ie 1 point bigger by walking the boards and we were prepared to lose our money but now we bet before we go racing and get guaranteed prices and more often than not better prices as when you get to the track the prices always seem to get compressed also I went to Newmarket and could get a beer or coffee without a card as wouldn’t take cash yet ascot and kempton you could pay cash. It’s not going to get better I’m afraid but this is the new future run by robots . A load of bollocks imo

[@jamescurtis75]

problem betting eraly is if you drift badly you most likely dont want to be on the horse anymore

[@johnthompson2543]

What is even more disrespectful is when one’s account is closed because one has dared to win. Stand up John Banks and Victor Chandler. Please Mr Banks , clean your own house first. The behaviour of bookmakers towards those punters who manage to show a profit is an utter disgrace.

[@MFLabFurniture]

I dont understand why they are against any one laying of - they can and do the same - if they need turn over what other option do they have ?

[@williamramage9461]

I think that the decline in shops could be made better if they had computers where we could bet online in the shop. Logging into our own accounts. Shops need brought up to date. They put in slot machines, so why not rows of computers for bettors to use.

[@johnwedgbury6817]

Why would you go to a shop to use a computer? Do it from home. Think that's a silly idea that wont happen. Would william hill install computers just to see customers come in and log into betfair? Because I wouldn't use william hill online and it's the only local shop for me.

[@williamramage9461]

@@johnwedgbury6817 The whole concept would be more than that I can see how you would think it silly however I don't. You can't bet in play in shops, well you can in some matches but say you wanted to buy a corner or a goal you could just walk up to a machine and perhaps not even need to log in just put in the cash make your bet get your receipt, and if the bets a winner place the receipt into the machine it's scanned and you get paid out instantly. Not everyone bets online and has accounts. And really I see people queue to play slots so my idea would be the same only for sports. Also they play slot that are also online so there is no difference between the two.

[@MichaelWilliams-mo1vv]

​@@williamramage9461in a sense you can do most of what you're after. Most bookies these days have sports betting terminals where you can insert cash and bet on whatever you like. You can also do multiples. The machine prints a ticket with your bet on it. If it wins you take it to the counter to be paid out. If there's any credit left after you place your bet on the terminal you print a withdrawal ticket and take it to the counter.

[@Isleofskye]

@@williamramage9461 Yes but all the millions of slots money goes to the shops that provide the machines in their own shops, whereas installing machines for you to bet with the competition?

[@timbrown166]

Might be the case down south and the betting rings where Mr Banks predominantly bets , but the online bluffers can't compete with the oncourse books at the racecourse I attend, no commission, no premium charge, no restrictions, winners allowed, come racing !

[@ferret100uk]

Very true words 👍

[@johnobrien8398]

No prices all the same odds along the line there is no point betting on course

[@jamescurtis75]

you are correct, not many proper bookies left on course, i couldnt get 2.5k on at 4/7, so missed the race out, it lost, i then bet it on the last race winner red derek and i took over 10k home, i had to do smaller bets to get it on, had they taken my first bet i would have been off home early

[@WeWereGoodOnce]

Punters wouldn't be able to arb if bookies ran their books properly. All the punter is doing is taking the price offered by a bookie. It should be illegal to ban someone for doing that.

[@ThePeterp57]

The punters get a decent deal percentage wise, but Geoff doesn’t mention that a cashless society is getting closer, bizarrely a lot of tracks are card only now

[@andymatthews7617]

CASH SHOULD RULE.

[@Isleofskye]

Is that Cards with On Course Bookies,please?

[@devennaidoo9690]

Old fashion respect and dressing the guys all over the world should learn to treat customers with dignity.

[@TomSmith-ix1sk]

Good video geoff

[@stephenpitt9558]

I agree with all u say here. The only bit of beef I ever had with u was when u called Barney Curley a crook. U got that one wrong for sure. The BHA should have listened to his ideas as they were all good in my opinion.

[@mauriceoflaherty7807]

Very well said.

[@peterstorey4360]

Sorry but a load of rubbish I bet at racecourses and the punters have never had it so good very competitive 1 percent a runner some times even less 😉 😜

[@paulrichards6894]

if he says these bookmakers are just laying off on the exchange surely once these bookmakers get into the PC charge it wont be worth it

[@andymatthews7617]

REALLY, REALLY.

[@ferret100uk]

It’s crap odds on course just look at oddschecker when the prices are up

[@Isleofskye]

Yes but when you lay a 600/1 and can have 9x £50 back,you are then laying 3/1 to £50 so you have gained 11% on that transaction(AS YOU KNOW 25% as opposed to the initial 14% ) lol