Bookmaker

Alternative titles for this job include Bookie, betting shop manager

Bookmakers organise gambling activities in betting offices, at racetracks and online.

Average salary (a year)

£18,000 Starter

to

£30,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

41 to 43 variable

You could work

evenings / weekends / bank holidays away from home

How to become

Explore the different ways to get into this role.

How to become a bookmaker

You can get into this job through:

  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role
  • applying directly
  • a graduate training scheme

College

You can learn some of the skills you need for this job by doing a course in customer service or retail, such as:

  • Level 2 Diploma in Retail Skills
  • Level 2 Diploma in Customer Service

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course

More Information

Apprenticeship

You could join a bookmaking firm and start on a customer service practitioner intermediate apprenticeship. This is followed by further training which can lead to betting shop manager positions.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship

More Information

Work

You could start in a betting shop as a cashier then take training on the job to become a supervisor or betting shop manager.

Direct Application

You could apply directly to bookmakers for a trainee manager job. To do this, you'll need GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), including English and maths.

Employers will also expect you to have some experience of customer service, supervising staff and handling money.

Other Routes

You may be able to apply for a betting company's graduate training scheme to start your career in bookmaking and betting shop management.

More Information

Career tips

When you apply for a job as a bookmaker, you may be asked to sit a basic maths test. This will show that you can work out odds, payments and percentages.

These tasks are usually done on electronic tills but it's important that you're able to explain them to customers.

What it takes

Find out what skills you’ll use in this role.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • customer service skills
  • the ability to work well with others
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • maths knowledge
  • patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
  • the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • to be flexible and open to change
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Restrictions and Requirements

You'll need to:

  • be over 18 years of age

What you’ll do

Discover the day to day tasks you’ll do in this role.

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

As part of your day-to-day work, you could:

  • recruit, train and supervise staff
  • greet customers and promote products to them
  • take bets and pay out winnings
  • deal with complaints
  • set sales targets
  • control costs and balance accounts
  • organise staff rotas
  • look after the security of staff, customers and money
  • follow gambling laws

Working environment

You could work at a store, in an office or at a race track.

Your working environment may be outdoors in all weathers.

Career path and progression

Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities.

Career path and progression

With experience, you could manage several betting shops in a region or set up your own business.

Current opportunities

Find apprenticeships, courses and jobs available near you.

Current opportunities

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