Ladbrokes & Coral removed from oddschecker

dvds2000

Gone But Not Forgotten
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https://calvinayre.com/2020/07/09/business/oddschecker-out-at-gvc-holdings-and-its-uk-subsidiaries/

GVC Holdings is doing a little housecleaning, especially at its properties in the U.K. BETDAQ, Coral and Ladbrokes are expected to be reviewed more closely in order to curtail unnecessary expenses, and the restructuring process has already begun. According to an announcement issued by GVC, the gaming operator is parting ways with affiliate marketing company Oddschecker as of today.


The decision was made, in part, over the company’s desire to trim excess expenses, but also because it apparently couldn’t reach an amicable pricing strategy with Oddschecker when it came time to renew the agreement. GVC said in a statement, “We would like to wish Oddschecker the best of luck and thank them for the positive relationship we’ve enjoyed over the years we’ve worked together. Sadly, we couldn’t agree commercial terms to renew the relationship, so as of the 9th July our U.K. Digital Brands will no longer feature on the service.”


GVC is probably also looking at the bigger picture and considering the fallout that’s coming from a shift to how gambling is managed in the U.K. Regulators and lawmakers in the country are cracking down on virtually anything and anyone tied to the industry, and more controls are expected to be put in place. Ultimately, especially on the heels of the coronavirus pandemic, that means reduced revenue for everyone.


Oddschecker still has a lot of support and, while it will feel the sting, should be able to bounce back with relative ease. The entity is an asset belonging to Flutter Entertainment and has a global footprint that includes several high-profile clients. The company’s CEO, Toby Bentall, issued a statement in response to the breakup, explaining, “It’s disappointing to no longer be working with Ladbrokes, Coral and Betdaq. However, Oddschecker needs to maintain a careful balance between serving its users with the best odds and offers whilst ensuring its business relationships are of sufficient commercial viability to allow investment in the market-leading products and technology expected of the U.K.’s number one odds comparison site. Oddschecker sincerely hopes to work with Ladbrokes, Coral and Betdaq again in the future.”
 
From what I've heard oddchecker (Skybet) charges an absolute fortune to be listed (close to 6 figures or higher a month) and I've never understood how the big companies, with an already massive market share, can justify spending that much.
 
Oddly enough, I've just clicked on the RP price for one tomorrow, and it's come up with odds @ Lads & Corals - both under the Oddschecker banner?:eek:
 
In the short term this is no great loss to me personally. Ladbrokes and Coral seldom offer the best odds or place terms and if you want to access boosted prices at Ladbrokes you have to access their site directly and the Ladbrokes site in particular is so slow I've seen myself almost giving up the will to live waiting. I'm betting relatively small these days so it doesn't bother me to quit the site and take slightly lesser odds elsewhere.

I do have to say, though, that if all bookies do this it will harm the industry as I'm pretty sure many punters will trim back or give up if they're limited in access to fast betting. This in turn will hit oddschecker just as much as anyone so it would make sense for them to bang their collective heads together and arrive at a mutually beneficial agreement.

The quietest-ever betting period I went through was 1987-89 when I lived in a remote place with only one small-time independent bookie over a mile away, long before on-line betting was available to me (ie I didn't have a computer). It was too far a walk to get lower odds than the big bookies and I couldn't be arsed to drive that far just to place a £1 or £2 bet. I deposited £30 with the guy and phoned him up when I fancied anything. That £30 lasted me the entire three years.

It wouldn't bother me to return to a similar strategy but I'd prefer to access as many accounts as possible (currently I have 14 active ones) and odds comparison sites are the only way to do that.

I suspect someone might be trying to undercut oddschecker. If not, they should.
 
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