Do You Miss The Smoke Filled Bookmakers Of Days Gone By?
While there is no industry or business in the world which has not had to move with the times, the betting industry and more specifically the bookmaking shops of old were some of the last bastions of the British gambling industry. Even now there are still many who would prefer to sit or stand in a smoke filled room watching horse races with their friends (well at least prior to the UK smoking ban!). But what was it about the olden days which so many people enjoyed?
Even though the number of gamblers in the UK has mushroomed over the last decade, due in the main to online gambling sites, there are many who still remember the “good old days” when a trip to the bookies was a full day event, and a place where woman were few and far between – perhaps seen by many as the last of the “gentlemen’s” clubs!
The banter and the camaraderie was excellent, with friend and foe pitting their wits against each other to see who came out on top. Side bets were common and everyone seemed to know the bookmaker by their first name – it was relaxing, it was fun, but deep down it was a cauldron of competition of egos, where the winner took all!
Since the online industry took off we have seen bookmaking chains revamp their whole set-up bringing it into the new millennium. Gone are the smoky corners to be replaced by fruit machines, automatic betting machines and even many a lady seen having a flutter. The days old days have well and truely gone, the new environment is spotless, spacious and air conditioned.
Are the old boys thankful of the changes? Of course not, they miss their little clubs, the meet with their friends, but business moves on and changes have been a plenty.