SPECTATORS at Celtic Park and Ibrox Stadium will be able to place bets
on the outcome of matches and likely goal-scorers at special betting
facilities inside the grounds from early this season.
Track betting licences, allowing bookmakers to operate at various
points in the grounds, were yesterday granted by Glasgow District
Council's licensing committee to both teams.
The decision means the clubs will join several other top Scottish
clubs who have installed betting facilities at their grounds since
Scottish Football League rules were altered in May last year.
Bookmakers are now allowed to take bets on football matches inside
grounds with club approval.
This followed the success of similar betting facilities in England,
where 36 clubs have them installed.
The licensing board granted the licences to Celtic and Rangers under
the Betting, Gaming, and Lotteries Act (1963) following site visits last
week.
Yesterday they heard there had been no objections from building
control, environmental health, police or fire service officials.
The licensing committee also granted a licence to Queens Park Football
Club for the use of betting facilities at Hampden Park.
The betting facilities at Celtic and Rangers' grounds -- eight kiosks
in Celtic Park's two existing stands and 11 kiosks and four counters in
various parts of Ibrox Stadium -- are to be operated by Ladbroke, which
runs almost all betting facilities at Scottish grounds.
Those clubs which have them include Hearts, Hibernian, Aberdeen,
Motherwell, Partick Thistle, and St Johnstone.
The company, which is the world's biggest bookmakers, is responsible
for all costs regarding the setting up and running of the kiosks or
counters and pays the host club a commission based on turnover of the
betting facilities.
Ladbroke yesterday estimated that Old Firm betting facilities would
create extra work for about 56 employees, including supervisors.
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