Career as a bookmaker is odds on

You could work in a licensed betting office or at a sporting location such as a horse racing venue.

If you are interested in sport and you can manage staff, this job could be a good choice for you.

To be good at this job you should also have an outgoing personality. You will need good customer service skills. You will also need maths skills in order to make calculations quickly.

You can get into this job by working your way up from a cashier job.

You may also be able to apply for a trainee manager scheme.

You might be able to apply directly for this job if you have experience in a customer service management job.

You need to be at least aged 18 to work in a betting office.

Bookmakers can work ‘on course’ or ‘off course’. Off-course bookmakers, also called betting shop managers, run licensed betting offices.

On-course bookmakers, or turf accountants, work in betting shops on location – usually at horse or dog racing tracks.

As a bookmaker, your tasks could include:

l Developing a team of cashiers

l Taking money, placing bets and paying out winnings during busy periods

l Recruiting and training new staff

l Dealing with complaints

l Setting sales targets

l Balancing accounts at the end of the day

l Implementing a high level of customer service throughout your team.You would work around 40 hours a week, including evenings and weekends (both on-course and off-course betting shops are open seven days a week).

During winter, opening hours are approximately 10am to 6pm.

From April to August, shops will stay open until the results of the last race (which can be around 9.30pm).

Part-time work may be possible.

As an on-course bookmaker, your work could take you all over the country to different sporting events. Your ‘office’ would be outdoors in all weather conditions.

Starting salaries for trainee or assistant managers can be between around £13,500 and £18,500 a year. Experienced managers may earn between £30,000 and £40,000. Figures are intended as a guideline only.

For details contact visit www.hospitalityguild.co.uk; write to National Association of Bookmakers Ltd PO Box 242, East Molesey, Surrey, KT8 2WE or contact 01884 841859 or visit nab-bookmakers.co.uk.

Alternatively, contact the Association of British Bookmakers Ltd Regency House, 1-4 Warwick Street , London ,W1B 5LT . Tel: 020 7434 2111