In a historic move for the Irish bookmaking community, seven of Ireland’s largest independent bookmakers today launched an online presence, BetPack.com, which has created 6 new jobs so far and will safeguard over 500 current positions in their shops across the country.

BetPack has been formed by Bambury Bookmakers, Hackett’s, Mulholland’s, Terry Rogers, Toolan Bookmakers, Track Bookmakers and Tully’s, who have 180 shops in total nationwide.  Each bookmaker has an equal share of BetPack profits and this now ensures they will not lose potential revenue online to rival bookmakers. 

The local bookmakers also generate revenue by customers signing up with promotional codes they have received in store, as the bookmaker is then given a percentage of the net revenue of each customer attached to them.       

The seven members of BetPack are now in a stronger position with their customers as they can provide them with an online offering when shops are not opened and this new site will see an increase in the range of markets the bookmakers can offer.  It will give small independent bookmakers the chance to compete on a level playing field with large international bookmakers.   

Jimmy Finlay, spokesperson for BetPack, sees this as one of the biggest developments in bookmaking in Ireland.  “The decision for seven of Ireland’s best known local bookmakers to come together and form an online presence is a huge development for the industry.  We were losing approximately 25% of earnings to online betting once we closed our shops in the evening and now we can develop a relationship with our customers both over the counter and through the BetPack.com website.  It is a boost to every bookmaker involved as this will now help safeguard the jobs of our staff while also helping to engage with more customers online.” 

Finlay also sees BetPack expanding with the possibility of more independent bookmakers joining BetPack in the future.  “Since we went online with BetPack, even before we were officially launched, the news got around the bookmaking circuit and we have had enquiries every day from bookmakers looking to get involved.  We wanted to see how this initial launch phase goes and we may then look at additional independent bookmakers coming on board,” Finlay went on to say.

The project has been brought together by Raglan Capital, a Dublin based corporate finance firm, through Managing Director, Cathal Friel, and Director, John Bowe.  Raglan have worked directly with the seven bookmakers over the past 18 months to help establish BetPack, to get the company off the ground and arranged external investors to fund the project.  

Cathal Friel, Managing Director of Raglan Capital, said, “It has been an exciting and interesting project so far.  We were delighted to have the opportunity to work with the seven founding member bookmakers and we were very happy to have had the opportunity to be able to invest directly in BetPack.com along with our own investor clients.”

To celebrate the launch, enjoy an enhanced €25 matched bet on our new website and we will give you an extra €5 bet FREE. Enter the Promotion Code “PRESS” when you register on BetPack.com.  BetPack can also be followed on Facebook and Twitter.