Point-of-Sale Betting Terminals
A concept for bringing self-service betting exchange access into public venue settings.
The setting
People enjoyed betting on sport while watching it together in pubs. Betting exchanges were making in-play bets possible, but this was before smartphones were everywhere. Touchscreen terminals already existed. I wondered whether betting could become a venue experience: why couldn't someone place a bet from a terminal in the pub while watching the game, rather than going away from the point of social activity?
The proposal
Self-service betting exchange terminals in public venues such as pubs and social spaces. A customer could approach a touchscreen terminal, review available markets and complete a simple venue-based transaction through an internet connection to a betting exchange.
What happened
I spoke with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. They didn't give me a detailed regulatory argument, but indicated that they'd prefer I didn't proceed. I took it as a possible grey area: the physical terminal was an internet-connected interface calling a betting exchange, rather than necessarily behaving like a conventional betting terminal. I don't know whether that was their concern. I chose not to pursue it after those discussions and their strong advice.
Looking back
I like that I was always looking for problems and trying out possible solutions. It was fun. Even if a business had come from this, it probably would have been short lived. Smartphones soon put internet access in everyone's pocket and removed much of the need for a dedicated terminal.
It was a product for a particular moment in time.