GPWA Times Magazine - Issue 1 - May 2007

25 “Although we were late entrants to the online market, we have made good progress. In hindsight, we may have entered it sooner than we did but you can’t go into something like that without the right people with the right skills.” Done knew he had to move to online betting when he saw many of his regulars coming in to his shops to see the prices only to make cell phone calls to Victor Chandler, which moved its offices to Gibraltar in 1996. Done is now able to cross market his shops and his site, giving his walk-in customers the ability to make bets in their homes. “We market the Betfred brand very strongly in our shops and also offer attractive incentives,” Done said. “Betfred is a strong brand name and we provide a tried and trusted service which has helped drive our shop customers to our online business which is growing constantly.” Done has always had to adjust to his business, but the advent of online gaming has forced him tomore flexible, in a time frame. Betfred decided to ban U.S. real-money wagers after the UIGEA passed, and will soon have to follow the regulations set forth in the U.K. Gambling Act. “The online business is constantly changing,” Done said. “There are always new developments and maintaining your edge is the most difficult aspect. You have to keep developing and evolving.” “After 40 years I’m still just as passionate about building my shop business as I was when I started, but I have also risen to the challenge of developing my online business and it is now where most of my energy goes”