Bookies Abroad and the Appeal of Gambling Worldwide
The other day Gambling911.com offered information on how to become a legal bookie courtesy of PayPerHead.com. Tony D. of that company discusses the appeal of gambling worldwide and why “banning the bookie” doesn’t make a whole lot of sense.
If you, as an agent or bookie, have ever wondered if there are bookies in other countries, the short answer to that question is yes. Or at least, yes in the countries where sports betting is illegal like in the US. I found this interesting article of how the agent business looks like in Pakistan and India, but what I found most interesting is the fact that when governments make the decision to ban a public pastime all they get in return is a host of problems. Just remember The Noble Experiment, best known as “the prohibition”. The thinking behind the banning of sports betting in India and Pakistan has created problems for cricket, an unintended consequence. Here in America, all it creates is inconvenience for the millions of bettors who place their recreational bets every weekend.
On the other hand, once you take the legal issues aside sports gambling become a completely honorable business, and being a bookie is actually just another way to make a living. Take a look at what happens in the United Kingdom. You, an agent, could set up your own, small walk-in shop, hire employees and advertise your activity. Yes, you have to pay more taxes but probably you would make even more money than today because those who are afraid to bet for fear of legal consequences would just look for you. Betting in general in the UK is so popular and ubiquitous that this activity is growing at a much faster pace in terms of visits to online sites than Facebook, as this other source will tell you. That’s just unbelievable, and sadly, unimaginable here in the US.
In the meantime that gambling becomes legal in America (don’t hold your breath!), you can add a layer of legal security to your agent activity by subscribing to a price per head service like Payperhead.com. When you do that, you effectively have the bet writing process take place overseas, in a secure location where sports bets are legal. It’s like having your own bookie call center only that without making a huge investment. There is no doubt that the security of knowing that there are no bet paper trails (your clients will bet 24/7 online) will help you focus on growing your business and find new players.
