What affect will offshore and online gambling have on the betting industry?

Will consumer expenditure on gambling rise in the future?

Will the abolition in betting tax simulate growth in the betting industry?

The betting shop sector has often been regarded as the poor cousin of the industry in terms of image and business potential. Offshore betting and the growth of the Internet have taken attention from a sector that has stagnated as other forms of gambling have flourished.

What affect will offshore and online gambling have on the betting industry?

Will consumer expenditure on gambling rise in the future?

Will the abolition in betting tax simulate growth in the betting industry?

The betting shop sector has often been regarded as the poor cousin of the industry in terms of image and business potential. Offshore betting and the growth of the Internet have taken attention from a sector that has stagnated as other forms of gambling have flourished.

The abolition of betting tax has reawakened interest in the sector that still commands over 90% of off-course betting revenue. The renegotiation of media rights is also focusing attention on the capacity of new media technology to transform the still tired image of the betting shop.

These developments and the prospect of rapid growth in the sector are the subject of this report. In addition, the report offers research of consumer attitudes towards the betting shop that is compared where possible to research for Mintel's last review of the sector in 1997.

Other Mintel reports of relevance include:

- Late licensing, Leisure Intelligence, July 2001

- Leisure Venue Catering, Leisure Intelligence, July 2001

- Online Betting, Leisure Intelligence, May 2001

- Bingo, Leisure Intelligence, April 2001

- Casinos, Leisure Intelligence, January 2001

- The Football Business, Leisure Intelligence, November 2000

- Leisure on the Internet, Leisure Intelligence, May 2000

- Cue Sports, Leisure Intelligence, December 1999

- The National Lottery, Leisure Intelligence, December 1999

- Off-shore Betting, Leisure Intelligence, September 2001.