Irish gambling company BoyleSports has announced significant plans to open up to 200 new stores, despite the overall trend of betting shop closures in the UK.
The company has pledged to open 200 new shops and create 1,000 jobs as they look to grow in a market that its bosses say is the UK’s under-appreciated market. As it stands, 390 shops across Ireland and the UK.
Despite the figures telling us that betting shops have receded from the high street every year for the past 10 years, according to the gambling commission, there was a smaller drop-off last year of just 1.4%.
As a result, we’ve seen UK companies turn their attention to the burgeoning US market which is slowly seeing betting legalised state by state. The projected growth of the US market is set to be the biggest in the world and the UK-based companies have looked to partner with American firms.
Vlad Kaltenieks, BoyleSports’ CEO, has claimed that his company complies with all legal requirements, and that compliance was one of the firm’s priorities. The UK’s strong regulation is what makes the new investment attractive, he added.
“The UK is one of the most exciting, well-regulated and competitive betting landscapes in the world, and we believe we offer something genuinely different to customers,” he said.
“As a family-owned, independent business, we’ve built a loyal customer base in Ireland by focusing on trust, service and a seamless experience and now we’re rolling that approach out even more widely across the UK.”
Despite the optimism, the figures surrounding physical stores is telling. According to the latest data from the UK Gambling Commission, the number of betting shops in Great Britain fell to 5,931 in 2024, down over the past 10 years from 9,111.
This has hit all of the major UK companies, including the likes of William Hill, Ladbrokes and BetFred. Entain’s Ladbrokes and Coral chains are now down to 2,400 outlets across the UK & Ireland, with Evoke’s William Hill and Betfred at 1,400 and 1,300 a piece. In addition, Flutter’s Paddy Power runs 563 shops across the UK and Ireland.
Furthermore, we’ve seen the total operator licences reduce as well. Given the state of the retreating market, it makes sense; Gambling Commission figures show the number of betting operator licensees – which would include all forms of betting, including trackside – dropped from 958 to 534.
The company has also announced a rebrand and a fresh new look, which they call the beginning of an ‘exciting new chapter‘ for the company. Their full statement read: “Rooted in history. Ready for the future. Today marks a major milestone for BoyleSports as we unveil our new brand identity and logo.
“This isn’t just a design refresh – it’s the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Ireland’s largest independent bookmaker. While our look is evolving, our commitment to customers, communities and the sporting moments that matter remains as strong as ever.
“From a single shop in Markethill in 1982, to a nationwide presence and beyond, our journey has always been built on innovation, passion and a strong customer focus. We are stepping into the future with a bold new brand that reflects where we’ve come from and where we’re going next.”
This may also be boosted by the potential news that they are said to be close to announcing their sponsorship deal with Premier League football club West Ham United. While the world’s most commercially and popular football league did ban betting companies from being on the front of football shirts, they can still be displayed on the sleeve.
