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What Are UK Betting Shops? The Complete History Explained
By GamblersPick Apr 27, 2020Are you trying to learn more about UK betting shops? If yes, you should check out our guide here explaining what they are along with the history of them.As people in the UK are five times more likely to be hooked on risky betting than others around the world, it's crucial that we as a nation have protections in place for those that love to gamble.
UK betting shops didn't always have these protections, but it's interesting to see how and why they got them. Here, we're going to talk about the legalisation and history of bookies in the UK. Read on to learn how far we've come in the gambling world since last century!
What Are UK Betting Shops?
Simply put, a betting shop is a small shop where one can place in-person bets with a licensed bookmaker. These bookies facilitate gambling for people who come to them so that they can bet on sporting events including horseraces, the outcomes of football games, and more.
While these shops used to be illegal (and still are in many parts of the world), the UK has legalised them. This has made these betting shops a safe place for gamblers to place bets and continue to have legal protections. This wasn't always the case, though, which is why it's important to understand the history of UK betting shops.
Where Did They Come From?
Up until 1960, when the Betting and Gaming Act was introduced to Great Britain, bookies were 100% an illegal business. While they did exist, there were penalties in place for those who were caught. For this reason, people who placed bets with them had no legal protections in place. Dishonest bookies were free to con and scam to their heart's desire.
However, all that changed when the first legal betting shop opened up on 1 May 1961. They then started opening up at a really brisk and steady rate, with approximately 100 new shops opening each week. Bookies that operated in these betting shops were given licenses to operate from the Racecourse Betting Control Board to operate across the nation.
Why Were These Laws Passed?
The new laws were passed specifically because of the prevalence of illegal betting around England. When illegal betting ran rampant, booked would send physical runners to collect money from those who were in debt to them. As you can imagine, this lead to criminal acts like assault and extortion that ran the police thin.
When the new act was passed, punters could only place off-course bets by proving that they already had enough credit to set up an account with a bookie. Bets would then be placed by telephone to ensure that runners weren't sent to rough anyone up.
The Impact
After these laws were passed, gambling became less stigmatised as well as being safer. Punters wouldn't risk becoming embroiled in criminal activity, so people were less likely to judge them for risky behaviours. While bookies weren't allowed to post adverts or market themselves, people did know about them and share which ones they liked with each other.
Get Started
Gambling has always been a pastime that people in Great Britain enjoy.
Now that you know the history of betting shops and their role in the UK, it's time to learn more about where you can gamble and have a good time placing bets. While it's fun to go out and meet with a bookie sometimes, there are other days where you might just want to gamble from the comfort of your own home. Check out the 'casinos' tab on our home page and start browsing for an online casino that works for you!
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