The World Cup this summer (no clarification of which sport needed) is already being hailed as the biggest betting event ever, and millions of British sports fans are betting on the outcome. Even without the football bonanza, betting in Britain is becoming a national sport in its own right, and last year gamblers wagered some £50 billion (US$89 billion) on the horses, lottery, casinos and the Internet. Gambling is fast becoming acceptable entertainment.

This year’s Sunday Times Rich List points to gambling providing big winnings for some operators. The man who owns Blackpool Tower and is seeking to get Britain’s first super casino for the town, Trevor Hemmings, is named as the UK’s 58th richest person. His companies Leisure Parcs and Crown Leisure run most Blackpool attractions and amusement arcades. Many new entries on the list have made fortunes from Internet gambling operations.

The 2006 Rich List of 1,000 people in Britain with at least £60 million includes a record number of billionaires. Gibraltar has been added to the tax havens where many multimillionaires are based, brought to prominence by founders of poker Internet sites and subsequent stock exchange flotations. PartyGaming, Betfair and Bet365 have placed their founders on the Rich List along with Victor Chandler.

Gambling fortunes will continue to be made by the operators as the British betting habit flourishes. It is estimated that the equivalent of £800 for each person, including children, was wagered in 2005 – seven times more than in 2001 – although there are no exact statistics. The social acceptance of gambling in Britain has had much to do with the advent of the National Lottery and both the government and gambling operators are set to reap the rewards of the expanding market. (E-04.24.06)

© Copyright 2006 CasinoCompendium



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