Bookmaker sees strong sales growth

BOYLESPORTS Holdings has reported strong sales growth in the year ending June 2005.

Boylesports, which operates across the entire island, is the country’s largest independent bookmaker and experienced significant growth in this 12-month period, with turnover up to €368.3 million, an increase of 38% on the previous financial year’s €266.6m.

The higher sales can be attributed to the success and expansion of all three betting channels, Online, Retail and Fon-A-Bet.

Operating profit for the same period was €1.23m.

During the financial year the company opened 12 shops, bringing the group’s total to 99.

Marketing and sponsorship expenditure during the year increased and it was also a period of investment in the group’s internet betting services and the launch of its online poker facility.

Chief operating officer Daniel O’Mahony, said future growth looked extremely positive. An online casino facility has just been launched and all three betting channels are continuing to experience strong growth, he said.

He said the group was about to open its 100th shop, which would be a landmark for the group.

The group was founded by John Boyle, group managing director, in 1982 with one shop in Armagh. In 1989 he moved the operation to Drogheda and opened a further five outlets there.

The past four years have seen huge expansion, taking the total number of people employed to 650.