Article Search

 Betting mogul eyes SA
    May 11 2008 at 02:01PM Get IOL on your
mobile at m.iol.co.za

British sports betting company Victor Chandler, set to expand into the South African market, revealed this week that it regarded the potential in this country as "huge".

But Victor Chandler, chairperson of the Victor Chandler International group, denied suggestions that with so much crime already in this country the last thing South Africa needed right now was a widespread gambling industry.

Chandler said, "We are not aiming at the bottom end of the market. It is people with disposable income, obviously people who have access to the internet and credit cards, that is the market. We are looking at mainly the middle class, those with money. We see ourselves as a form of entertainment.
Continues Below ↓





"We have to dip our toes in the water and see what the potential is. But we do believe it is huge there."

'Europe is already opening up'
The move by the Victor Chandler organisation into South Africa reflects a widespread opening up of gambling, benefiting from the online facility.

"People are regulating, and this will happen in most countries," said Chandler. "Europe is already opening up.

"Why South Africa? We see a potential market, like Israel; places that are badly served at the moment. All our operations will be online, although we will also be opening a telephone betting office in time."

Chandler refused to speculate on the number of jobs such an organisation might create across South Africa.

"It will grow according to the demand. But key to that is the internet penetration within society as a whole.

'He lost his best horse in South Africa'
Trust

"The UK market shows what is possible as that factor grows. A few years ago, nine percent had access to the internet, but now that figure is 60 percent. That has changed our business.

"The past 18 months have seen a huge change in internet selling. What people have had to adjust to (on the internet) is trusting people with their credit card details.


Continues...


Email StoryPrint Story
BOOKMARK THIS STORY
Social bookmarking allows users to save and categorise a personal collection of bookmarks and share them with others. This is different to using your own browser bookmarks which are available using the menus within your web browser.

Use the links below to share this article on the social bookmarking site of your choice.

Read more about social bookmarking at Wikipedia - Social Bookmarking

muti



     Related Articles
More General stories

Watch IOLs latest videos on YouTube Join IOLs Facebook page Follow IOL on Twitter





     Online Services

Date Your Destiny
 
I'm a 41 year old woman looking to meet men between the ages of 25 and 50.
 

     More Services

     More General Stories

     Breaking News      Most Read Stories
      Top News Stories
      Top South Africa Stories
      Top Reads - Yesterday



     Entertainment      Motoring
Our own McDreamy dishes out advice
Mel squeezes chat show in a busy life
Phat Joe in court over radio station car

     Business
Jobs data reveals SA on the right road
Forget about rand; schooling key to growth
Swiss to buy into Adcock division
FIRST DRIVES: Hyundai's new 'Tucson' and sexy Sonata
Killer crash-bags in fresh recall scandal
Struggling new teams can miss three races - Todt
Classic machines howl at Killarney Historic meeting
Yamaha, Ducati set pace at Sepang

     Travel
New vision strikes a chord
Discovering the pleasure of paradise
Spend 11 nights cruising the Med
Liquor-free hotel opens in Cape Town
Gateway to love is around the corner
     Careers
Changing lanes in the career highway
Getting to grips with the transport industry
To be your own boss, believe in yourself first
Salary survey puts unstable economy into the equation
Development of child is key