In March, I wrote about Bar One Racing. One of the largest – and last – independent bookmakers in the country. With 55 outlets, the Louth-based business perfectly encapsulated the struggles facing other independent players in the sector. In a world of mega-mergers, smartphones and changing consumer patterns, independent bookmakers like Bar One are fighting for both relevance and market share. The doubling of the betting tax to two per cent in Budget 2019 did not help either, nor does the fact that, unlike their counterparts in the UK, Irish operators do not have the luxury of fixed-odds betting terminals,…

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