While the world was still in shock after the UK had voted to leave the European Union, rumours started to circulate that bookmakers were already looking to mitigate the effects of Brexit on their businesses. One of the first steps that William Hill took was to close all of its shops in Britain. While many sportsbooks have kept open, the books that cater tobettors have found alternative ways to operate. It wasn’t long before a firm called Matchbook came up with a solution that enabled them to continue offering their wares to British customers, whilst avoiding any issues that might arise from the country leaving the EU.
The History Of Matchbook
One of the biggest names in the industry, Matchbook was established in 1994 and initially focused on taking on the big European sportsbooks by offering larger bets and better odds. Over the years, they expanded their operations and now offer bets on a range of sports including football, tennis, ice hockey and more. Their head office is in London and they have offices throughout the UK. Their customer support team is available 24/7 via email and live chat.
Whilst William Hill initially closed down their shops in the wake of the Brexit vote, Matchbook had already prepared for life after the EU by taking steps to ensure that their business continued without issue. By rerouting their headquarters to Amsterdam, where they have an office and a trusted local partner in De Klauw, they were able to continue operating as normal.
Why Amsterdam?
For years, Amsterdam has been a hub for the legal betting industry, thanks to the Dutch Gaming Act. This laid the groundwork for the city’s booming ‘graveyard’ betting industry, which now employs thousands of people and generates billions of euros in revenue each year. In fact, since the UK’s decision to leave the EU, Amsterdam has become even more attractive as a location for sportsbooks looking to expand their operations. Not only does it offer a flourishing betting scene, but with visa requirements being relaxed for sports fans it makes it much easier for international teams to travel there and play. In addition, since the city is a popular holiday destination for Europeans, it provides a steady stream of punters that the books can tap into. Coupled with its convenient location, which is on the German border, this makes it an ideal place for operations.
Setting Up Shop In Amsterdam
Having established a presence in Amsterdam, it was only a matter of time before Matchbook set up shop in the city. In fact, they were one of the first to arrive, setting up shop in the city’s ‘Red light district’ a few years ago and since then they have continued to expand their presence, setting up more offices in the city and launching an online platform called Bet.com that enables them to operate in a variety of ways.
As well as providing a venue for sportsbooks looking to expand their operations, Amsterdam also offers a wealth of experience to those looking to get into the industry. Not only did the city’s graveyard betting scene exist before it was legalised, but it was also one of the first to operate when the Dutch Gaming Act was introduced. This means that it has the necessary infrastructure in place and a pool of existing customers that the books can access.
The Many Different Ways That You Can Bet With Matchbook
Whichever method of betting that you prefer, whether you place a bet privately with a bookmaker or head to one of the city’s many online bookmakers, there is a way that Matchbook can help you to make the most of your wagers. Many of the site’s offerings are available for immediate betting and offers including:
- Soccer
- Tennis
- Hockey
- Motorsport
- Anime
- Fighting
- Greyhound
In addition to providing these options, they also have an in-house vegas platform that they use to host their own promotions such as the World Cup and European Championship. And given that Matchbook is one of the biggest names in the industry, this means that you can rest assured that your bet will be safe and secure when you place it with them.
A Steady Stream Of New Customers
While the world was still in shock after the UK had voted to leave the European Union, rumours started to circulate that bookmakers were already looking to mitigate the effects of Brexit on their businesses. One of the first steps that William Hill took was to close all of its shops in Britain. While many sportsbooks have kept open, the books that cater tobettors have found alternative ways to operate. It wasn’t long before a firm called Matchbook came up with a solution that enabled them to continue offering their wares to British customers, whilst avoiding any issues that might arise from the country leaving the EU.
One way that Matchbook enables its customers to continue placing bets is by taking on the role of a middleman. Since many bookmakers have closed down in the UK, those that remain have had to get creative in finding new customers. With so many bettors looking for a place to place their bets, there has been a boom in the number of new accounts that Matchbook opens up each month. As well as taking on the role of a bookmaker themselves, they also offer customers the opportunity to become a bookie, by setting up a free account with Paddy Power.
One of the interesting things about Matchbook is that whilst many other operators in the industry have taken a ‘race to the bottom’ approach and offered big incentives to attract new customers, Matchbook has instead worked hard to establish a reputation for quality service and good value for money. A lot of this is down to the level of competence that they expect from their employees and the training that they provide. This reputation for excellence has enabled the firm to grow steadily over the years and now, with the UK’s decision to leave the EU, it is expected that their business will continue to grow.
In fact, since the Brexit vote, those that have taken the time to analyze the trend have predicted a surge in business for Matchbook, with an increasing number of people looking to place bets on the big football and cricket tournaments that Britain is involved in.
Where Will The Future Of British Betting Lie?
While the world was still in shock after the UK had voted to leave the European Union, rumours started to circulate that bookmakers were already looking to mitigate the effects of Brexit on their businesses. One of the first steps that William Hill took was to close all of its shops in Britain. While many sportsbooks have kept open, the books that cater tobettors have found alternative ways to operate. It wasn’t long before a firm called Matchbook came up with a solution that enabled them to continue offering their wares to British customers, avoiding any issues that might arise from the country leaving the EU.
One of the biggest names in the industry, Matchbook was established in 1994 and initially focused on taking on the big European sportsbooks by offering larger bets and better odds. Over the years, they expanded their operations and now offer bets on a range of sports including football, tennis, ice hockey and more. Their head office is in London and they have offices throughout the UK. Their customer support team is available 24/7 via email and live chat.
While William Hill initially closed down their shops in the wake of the Brexit vote, Matchbook had already prepared for life after the EU by taking steps to ensure that their business continued without issue. By rerouting their headquarters to Amsterdam, where they have an office and a trusted local partner in De Klauw, they were able to continue operating as normal.
As well as providing a venue for sportsbooks looking to expand their operations, Amsterdam also offers a wealth of experience to those looking to get into the industry. Not only did the city’s graveyard betting scene exist before it was legalised, but it was also one of the first to operate when the Dutch Gaming Act was introduced. This means that it has the necessary infrastructure in place and a pool of existing customers that the books can access.
Overall, whilst it is too early to say with any certainty what the future of British betting will look like after the UK leaves the EU, it is safe to assume that those that offer their services to home punters will continue to grow whilst others will struggle to survive. It would be a missed opportunity if the country’s biggest betting companies do not learn from the success that Matchbook have had and do not try to take the easy route by expanding overseas.