Aviemore bookmakers closes its doors
Badenoch and Strathspey has been left without a bookmakers at least for the time being after Scotbet Ltd went into receivership.
A sign in the window of the premises in Aviemore Shopping Centre advised customers that the bookies was now closed and winning bets could could be collected by sending winning slips to ScotB123 in Loanhead.
The High Street bookmaker has been sold on in a pre-pack deal which will safeguard 127 jobs and 30 of the chain's 41 betting shops but 27 jobs will go.
It is not clear yet if the Aviemore shop is one of those that will be permanently closed.
Paul Dounis and Gareth Harris of RSM Restructuring Advisory were appointed joint receivers of the company this afternoon.
They said that Scotbet's business had been hit by increased competition, the growth of online betting and changes to the maximum Fixed Odd Betting Terminal stakes.
The UK Government cut maximum bets on a spin from £100 to £2 in April because of fears that lives were being ruined by addictions to the machines.
The receivers have sold the business to Scotb123 Ltd under previous chairman John Heaton.
Paul Dounis said: “The business faced a number of changes to the trading landscape, like other businesses in the sector, and was unable to continue to trade.
“The sale of the business secures 127 jobs and it ensures continuity of the majority of the Scotbet shops. Regrettably this process has led to the closure of 11 stores, resulting in 27 redundancies.
“We are working closely with Redundancy Payments Service to support those employees who have been made redundant to process claims as quickly as possible.”
Mr Heaton, chairman at Scotb123, said: “I am pleased that we have managed to save 30 of the Scotbet shops. This has been a very difficult time and I am particularly sorry for the staff in the branches which have closed.
“Independent bookmakers have been hit hard by increased costs and the reduction of the FOBT stake was the straw which broke the camel’s back.”
