UK retail betting giant Entain, owner of Ladbrokes, Coral and Eurobet, wants to refresh its UK and European high street stores by converting a number into what the company calls “contemporary, digital spaces to enhance the omni-channel experience.” This makeover will begin in the UK and Italy, and the new shops will contain the latest gaming machines and interactive displays to give customers a more “engaging and dynamic experience” as well as a greater choice of interactive sports and gaming content.
Rob Wood, CFO and Deputy Chief Executive, commented: “Entain is a global online operator, but we are focused on delivering a great local experience for our customers. This investment allows us to give a more immersive and joined up online omni-channel experience to our customers. Since high streets reopened, our retail customers have returned in large numbers which reflects the continued demand from customers for an engaging in-shop experience.”
Entain has already opened 18 new digital hubs across the UK and aims to have 30 open by the end of 2021, with an end goal of 200 in the country by the end of 2024. In Italy, the group plans to convert around 200 shops and have the first 30 locations open by the end of this year, including a number of Eurobet Cafes, offering customers a new place to meet and socialise with friends. “This is all about offering a different and more distinctive experience to new and existing customers,” says Andrea Faelli, Managing Director of Entain Italy. “We want to move from simply offering betting shops to hosting spaces in town centres where people can come to have a good time, which may or may not include having a bet.”
