Would the real Samvo group please stand up

Jamie Hinks
September 30, 2011
7 Comments

SamvoA European-based company is aiming to revolutionize the betting shop experience with the opening of two shops in Central London. When we say the company name Samvo, most of you will probably only remember them for that botched letter their lawyers sent us earlier in the summer over a number of visits/raids/dinner dates/one night stands (delete as appropriate) they had with the Thin Blue Line. The result an unsuccessful one for them and we hadn’t heard hide nor hare of them.

Now they are embarking on a campaign to expand into the British land-based bookmaking market with a new approach. We spoke to the company’s Marketing Director David Miller who, after inviting us to the grand opening on October 12th, explained a little more about what the firm does.

In terms of the new retail premises, he said, “The initial focus for our entry into retail bookmaking is London. We will officially open two samvo betting cafés: on Camden High Street and King Street, Hammersmith. We call them “betting cafés” as they are quite a new retail concept, designed to attract a younger, more affluent customer. We are currently working to launch other betting cafés in London and other major UK cities and hope to grow the estate to around 10 units in total.”

Betting shop

An end to scenes like this?

Why enter the UK market now? Surely during a recession like we are having right now, embarking on a period of expansion in a very competitive marketplace is risky.

Miller explained, “Despite the poor macro-economic climate, retail bookmaking is still relatively healthy. Also, Samvo is on a steep growth curve with its online b2b and b2c businesses. The launch of the retail concern fits well within the overall strategy.”

The company was founded in 2004 and holds licenses from the Alderney Gambling Control Commission (AGCC), United Kingdom Gambling Commission and Curacao Gambling Commission (CGC). The founder is “highly respected” ex-investment banker Frank Chan still owns the company that grew from humble beginnings in Asia.

“Samvo is proud of its Asian roots however its Asian operations are largely development related, as its global HQ is in Europe. All global trading, marketing and day-to-day operations are managed out of offices in Guernsey and London,” Miller added.

It’s still unclear as to what they do in the Asian market and whether they operate in the most world’s most lucrative gambling industry market. As far as online gambling operations are concerned, Miller mused, “samvo.com is a small but growing online gambling site that offers sportsbetting – with particularly attractive prices on handicap betting – and casino games. It is currently undergoing a major overhaul and will re-launch in 2012 with an improved UI and exciting new products. samvobetbroker.com has already established itself as one of the leading global destinations for professional punters, offering outstanding service, prices and settlements.”

In terms of international operations it seems that the samvobetbroker site is where they do most of their business with no clarification as to whether this takes place in Asia or not not. Check back here on CalvinAyre.com to find out whether this is the revolution in betting shops or just after October 12th. In the mean time we’ll leave you to read our Samvo comic from earlier this summer. Enjoy…

samvo

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  • http://www.facebook.com/calvinayre Calvin Ayre

    I always have problems with companies that can not explain their business model in a sentence or so?

  • http://www.facebook.com/calvinayre Calvin Ayre

    I do not exactly get their model eithor.  

  • Anounymous

    LOL – hilarious – in this phone age, where most competitors have a mobile app…going to a betting shop is so pre-historic. unless they are offering some other type of “services” that would draw the customers in?

  • Yantang

    The “new” website should have launched earlier this year. After atleast 2 years they canned it and 40 odd staff, maybe building a site in flash wasn’t the best idea? They also just bought a building in central London, 29 Marylebone Road, which they paid £20 million for. Most of their cash comes from “high rollers” in their brokerage department.

  • Andrews

    Yeah, bet the “high rollers” aren’t exacty legit either. I work for a refit company who done a proposal for them. The management team at Samvo are very young and lack experience, which means they ask allot of very stupid questions. We were left in no doubt that samvo dealings are not legit.

  • Davidmilleritwasntaraid

    What a bunch of muppets.Samvo are an embarrassment to the gambling industry, Yan Tang, Eric Ho and Frank Chan do not trust them. Oh heads up to Global Betting Exchange and Microgaming, they will be terminating your contracts shortly to focus on Asia. 

  • Anounymous

    just be glad the new “website” wasnt launched…it was aimed at young people  -which for the gambling industry doesnt promote social responsibility and patronised people – i’d like to think that people in the gambling industry are more savvy than most and shouldnt be treated with kid gloves like samvo does.