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More info
- This role requires good customer service skills and the ability to cope with a fast-paced, varied workload
- You may need to work evenings and weekends
- You can apply directly to bookmakers. Experience in retail sales, customer service and handling cash would be helpful
DAY-TO-DAY DUTIES
- Welcoming customers and offering refreshments
- Explaining odds and different ways of betting
- Using computerised systems to take bets and pay out winnings
- Making sure the satellite TV, video and digital display systems are working
- Keeping the shop clean and tidy and stocked with betting slips, pens and odds sheets
- Giving information about products like gaming machines
- Reporting any suspicious betting patterns or under-age gambling to the shop manager
- Balancing takings after the shop closes for the day
DAY-TO-DAY ENVIRONMENT
You'll usually work in a high street shop, for a chain of bookmakers. Your busiest times will be when there are sporting events, elections and the run-up to Christmas. Betting shops usually open around 8am and may stay open until 10pm, 7 days a week, including bank holidays. Some may close earlier on Sundays.
In a full-time job you'll usually work 5 days out of 7, usually including Saturday. You'll often work long hours behind the till. You may need to wear a uniform.
You'll need
There are no set requirements but employers may include a maths test as part of the recruitment process.
They usually want applicants to have experience in customer service and an interest in sport.
A Level 1 Certificate or Level 2 Diploma in Customer Service or Retail Sales, or a Level 2 Certificate in the Structure of the Horseracing Industry may also help you find work.
Alternatively, you can get into this job through a retailer intermediate apprenticeship.
CAREER PROSPECTS
With experience, you may be able to progress to assistant manager, deputy manager or shop manager. From there you could move on to managing multiple shops. You could also choose to go into telephone, mobile or online betting.
If you have language skills, you may find opportunities in overseas betting.