Scots independence would bring big questions over gambling law

Paul Petrie, director at Scottish sportsbook McBookie.com, discusses the Scottish Independence Referendum

Other betting firms have mixed views on the outcome – William Hill suggesting 80% of bets for YES and Betfair suggesting the opposite. What’s McBookies’ take on the vote?

95% of the bets we have taken have been on a Yes vote.

The opinion polls have the contest neck and neck, but the market odds on a yes resolutely stay at around 3/1, so all that is doing is encouraging more and more people to put their money on a Yes vote. Based on the polls a Yes vote should actually be priced at 11/10. It certainly suggests that Yes remains the value.

What has the vote been like for business generation? Has it worked as an acquisition tool?

We haven’t opened any new accounts specifically to be on the outcome. It has been all from existing customers. That will mainly be because all bookmakers are offering this market so there is no unique selling point on it. It has been great for PR and Brand Awareness though. We have been quoted in the media on numerous occasions and even made the front page of the Herald with our prices on the debate between Alex Salmond and Alistair Darling.

Should there be a yes vote, do you envisage any business implications for McBookie? Might you get more competition in your positioning as a Scotland-focused bookie?

Obviously a Yes vote brings big questions regarding the UK gambling commission. If there is a Yes vote will it even exist on the 19 September? Also how will it impact the new Point of Consumption Tax? Scottish Customers will no longer be defined as UK customers so will they count towards it? To be fair there are bigger things to worry about if there is a Yes vote than these matters but we are certainly watching it with interest. I don’t envisage it bringing in any more competition than we already have

How might a Scottish Gambling Law differ from the current UK laws? How jittery are the Scottish politicians when it comes to gambling?

As mentioned there will be questions to be answered concerning whether a Scottish government would bring in a Point of Consumption Tax. If the Government do need to raise taxes then Gambling is an obvious area to look at so again we will be watching that with interest.