AtTheRaces is proving big business for BSkyB’s betting division, SkyBet, its managing director, Nick Rust, told the Racing Post this week. Annual results published last Wednesday showed that SkyBet’s turnover had rocketed by 145% for the year ended June 30th, despite the two months when racing was off the air.
Rust said: 'Growth has been across the board, and it's an indication of our progress that on Saturday, iTV turnover through ATR reached six figures, even though the only live non-terrestrial racing until the evening was on Racing UK. There has been good growth in our telephone and internet business, which I put down to several reasons - the fact we will guarantee a price to reasonable stakes for 15 minutes after we open the phones, a consistent advertising presence in the Racing Post, and our programme of sponsorship.
'Growth in iTV business is coming from a different area, though. It's mainly through football and other sports, particularly where we offer in-running betting, such as our ball-by-ball markets on cricket.'
Rust hinted that BSkyB may launch its own poker channel within the next 12 months.
