Fairplay will make its debut as an on-course bookmaker at the Qatar Goodwood Festival after acquiring its first racecourse betting pitch.
The UK-licensed sportsbook will introduce a branded on-course presence for the opening day of the festival, one of the UK’s largest Flat racing meetings. Fairplay founder Billy Gowing and Head of Trading Neville Burdock will operate the pitch.
The move marks the operator’s first entry into on-course bookmaking and forms part of a strategy focused on establishing a presence at selected major UK racing festivals rather than attending race meetings throughout the calendar.
Fairplay said its online sportsbook will remain the primary focus of the business, with on-course betting intended to complement its existing operation. The racecourse presence is also expected to increase the brand’s visibility among racing bettors and provide an additional revenue stream.
The launch comes as operators continue to explore ways of combining online and retail betting channels in the UK market. Fairplay’s move also reflects continued investment in British horseracing despite the regulatory and commercial challenges facing both the racing and betting sectors.
Gowing said: “Goodwood is the ideal place for Fairplay to make its on-course debut. We have no intention of trying to be at every meeting in the country. Our ambition is to build a presence at the major festivals and put the Fairplay name on some of the biggest stages in British racing.
“Being on-course gives us another opportunity to demonstrate that Fairplay is genuinely invested in the sport. It allows racing bettors to interact with the brand in person, while creating greater awareness of the online sportsbook we are building.
“Neville and I are both huge racing fans, so there is also a real sense of excitement about running the pitch ourselves. Neville knows the numbers and the markets inside out, so he will be making sure I do not take on too many liabilities.”
Gowing added: “There is no question that this is a challenging period for British racing and betting, particularly with the impact of affordability checks and increasing taxation.
“However, horseracing is deeply ingrained in British sporting culture and remains one of the country’s biggest spectator sports. The industry may have difficult periods, but I strongly believe racing will continue to adapt and work through those challenges.
“We want Fairplay to be part of its future. On-course bookmaking will never become the main part of our business, but it can help us make some noise, introduce the brand to more racing bettors and support the continued growth of our online sportsbook.”
