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Star Sports Group, the leading independent UK operator reigniting a renaissance in retail across its burgeoning high-street empire, has selected Biztech Software’s trailblazing EPOS system, Arkle, to power its progressive inter-shop functionality.

Biztech Software is the pre-eminent supplier of betting-store software in Ireland and Northern Ireland, now rapidly expanding its footprint across the UK with a host of established brands and independents. Arkle is its next-generation betting EPOS, facilitating bet-slip processing, acceptance and settling solutions for all betting shops. It is designed to safeguard and streamline any retail outlet, catering for every need across bet acceptance, security, reporting and even tax returns.

Arkle enables staff to view a centralised field-book and risk-management facility, clearly framing and defining liabilities and alerts in real-time across entire estates, while real-time security triggers allow operators to take action before expensive pay-outs are processed. Whatever the customer pathway – be it a traditional slip, call over or mark sense – Arkle has the requisite flexibility. The product is built on modern .NET 4.7 Framework Technologies and SQL Server so that trading isn’t disrupted even when a shop server is down.

As a mainstay of the Irish independent bookmaking circuit, Biztech Software’s Arkle system has already been rolled out across Flutter’s 600-shop-strong Paddy Power retail estate to universal acclaim, and now Star Sports is using it to bolster its own high-street presence with a growing stable of over 20 high-quality shops located across prime sites in the UK.

The announcement follows hard on the heels of Star Sports Group welcoming Russ Wiseman as its latest Chairman, consolidating its senior management structure at a pivotal point for Britain’s bookmakers, with the Gambling Act review’s white paper due in the coming months, alongside a host of other major market changes. Undaunted, and driven by innovative and responsive tools such as Arkle, Star Sports remains committed to the growth of a joined-up footprint across retail, online and app channels.

Biztech Software will also be on site for next week’s industry tradeshow at ICE London. The sector’s defining betting summit is held between 7-9 February at the ExCeL London, and Biztech Software delegates will be on hand to unpack its latest plans and innovative products, like Arkle, at Stand S1-311. To arrange a meeting and demo at ExCeL London, reach out to CEO Ben Sharpe.

Ben Sharpe, CEO at Biztech Software, said: “It’s a real validation of our diligent team’s hard work that a brand as recognised and well-regarded as Star Sports has chosen our Arkle EPOS system. We’re delighted to work with them in evolving our offering across their retail suite.

“A key component to Arkle has always been that shop staff can still serve their customers and scan bets during downtime. It also includes a full mark sense, providing a faster, more efficient way to process in-vogue multiples bets, eliminating the need for time-consuming navigation. Our all-in-one screen provides a clearer visual aid of the horses and races on offer, with early prices, live shows and results displayed as soon as the data is received. Importantly, prices also remain homogenous between screens and tills.

“Of course, we already have an excellent foundational partnership with Flutter and a host of leading independents over the past decade to demonstrate our track record, but rolling out into more stores across the British Isles is a huge fillip for Arkle’s footprint as we eye up other emerging markets for growth, aside from our ongoing presence in more mature territories. Indeed, hopefully we will have another very significant deal to announce in the coming months.

“More immediately, all roads now converge on the ExCeL Centre in London, at which I’m pleased to report we’ve renewed our prominent presence at Stand S1-311, where we will be unpacking our latest plans and innovative product portfolio. As ever, it should be a lot of fun, but also a hugely consequential show at a time when the sector needs to put its collective shoulders to the wheel to confront and negotiate some pressing challenges. I’m thoroughly impressed with the quality, quantity and diversity of the delegates on site, so we can’t wait to catch up with old friends and form some new partnerships.”

Ben Keith, Founder of Star Sports, added: “Retail has rebounded robustly since the dark days of the pandemic, and Star Sports is renowned for harnessing responsive and innovative products which help the industry deliver the best customer experience. We’re happy to be adding Arkle to that mix, as we continue to upgrade and enhance the betting shop journey for our customers in the UK.

“Arkle is a fine example of best-in-breed software that is more robust, resilient and agile than legacy EPOS systems which are simply no longer fit for purpose. We now have the fastest bet-slip editor on the market, which also enables staff to remotely edit between shops in real-time. In short, Arkle gives Star Sports and our shop staff market leading-event data in a clear and easy-to-navigate format. It’s a real boost for both increased activity and total inter-store peace of mind.”

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