Business / Companies
GO-BET to set up betting outlets across Zimbabwe
03 Apr 2015 at 14:39hrs | Views
GO-BET, a Pan-African sports betting group, plans to set up numerous betting outlets across the country with two shops already scheduled for opening by the end of this month. The flagship branch is the expansive 54 Rezende Street. Go-Bet has footprints in South Africa, Kenya and Ghana.
In an interview, Go-Bet general manager Mr Innocent Muti said the company is now one of the best sports betting firms in the country.
"Despite the prevailing liquidity challenges we are managing to steer our business forward. We are basically leveraging the growing appetite for sport betting in Africa. This trend started off in Europe, where there is a betting shop at nearly every street corner and is spreading all over the world. Most of our customers come and play for the thrill of winning with the team they support. That is priceless. Nearly every day there are winners and we pay promptly up to $50 000.
"We are targeting numerous branches across the country and two will be opened by the end of this month," said Mr Muti.
He said the company offers a variety in terms of sports including cricket, football and tennis among others.
Mr Muti said 95 percent of bets are done towards football and the company is offering numerous different football leagues rather than the traditional FA and the UEFA champions' leagues.
It's quite surprising how our customers actively follow some lesser known leagues such as the Belgian Jongs (under 19 Youth leagues) or Czechoslovakia women.
Our customers are spoilt for choice with the variety of markets we offer for each league, be it basic match betting, on which team will win, to more exotics like predicting total number of goals or 10 minute draw.
We have also had a unique offering in the industry: self-service, where customers place their bets by themselves on our computers."
He said the liquidity situation continues to be a challenge but there are prospects of good business during the year.
"The cost of setting up shops in the country remains high and that has been one of the challenges faced by many soccer betting firms," said Mr Muti.
In addition to the long established Mashonaland Turf Club, several more betting companies have sprouted up in the central business district of Harare and other urban centres across the country.
All roads linking central Harare have at least one or two betting houses some with branches in high density suburbs.
On a daily basis, these shops are full of punters trying their luck on various sporting disciplines. Punters put their money on activities such a car and motorbike racing, cricket, greyhound racing, boxing, volley, basketball and cricket among other spots.
In an interview, Go-Bet general manager Mr Innocent Muti said the company is now one of the best sports betting firms in the country.
"Despite the prevailing liquidity challenges we are managing to steer our business forward. We are basically leveraging the growing appetite for sport betting in Africa. This trend started off in Europe, where there is a betting shop at nearly every street corner and is spreading all over the world. Most of our customers come and play for the thrill of winning with the team they support. That is priceless. Nearly every day there are winners and we pay promptly up to $50 000.
"We are targeting numerous branches across the country and two will be opened by the end of this month," said Mr Muti.
He said the company offers a variety in terms of sports including cricket, football and tennis among others.
Mr Muti said 95 percent of bets are done towards football and the company is offering numerous different football leagues rather than the traditional FA and the UEFA champions' leagues.
It's quite surprising how our customers actively follow some lesser known leagues such as the Belgian Jongs (under 19 Youth leagues) or Czechoslovakia women.
We have also had a unique offering in the industry: self-service, where customers place their bets by themselves on our computers."
He said the liquidity situation continues to be a challenge but there are prospects of good business during the year.
"The cost of setting up shops in the country remains high and that has been one of the challenges faced by many soccer betting firms," said Mr Muti.
In addition to the long established Mashonaland Turf Club, several more betting companies have sprouted up in the central business district of Harare and other urban centres across the country.
All roads linking central Harare have at least one or two betting houses some with branches in high density suburbs.
On a daily basis, these shops are full of punters trying their luck on various sporting disciplines. Punters put their money on activities such a car and motorbike racing, cricket, greyhound racing, boxing, volley, basketball and cricket among other spots.
Source - herald
