"Diplomacy is an art form not easily applied in a betting shop."
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Making the Book Pay! by Len Anthony Trafford Publishing
book review by Cynthia Collins
The difficult economic circumstances in England during the late 1970s resulted in both the loss of jobs and the lack of available new positions within the same profession. This was how a young man, who had planned on an engineering career, ended up applying for a job in the betting industry. Even though he had no previous experience in bookmaking, the interviewer was impressed with the applicant's work record. The man attended a training program that included all aspects of being a bookmaker. For thirteen weeks, he studied everything from fractions, calculations, cash receipts, banking, to customer service, and diplomacy. He passed with flying colors and was in a profession that had been considered one of the "dens of iniquity." He ended up spending the next twenty years in the world of betting, racing, and lotteries.
This book is written as a personal essay or journal about the author's experiences. He covers the changes in bookmaking over the years from the stereotypical bookie to corporate bookmakers and the various racing/lottery boards set up to regulate the betting industry. He discusses the consequences and results of increased access to racing events through television and radio, the often glamorized bygone era of the "good ole boys," and how computers have changed the way betting and communication are handled. All of this is done with a combination of humor and honesty. By the time the reader finishes this small book, he or she will have a better understanding of the world of the betting industry.