Interview: BEN KEITH
MEETING BEN KEITH: Star Sports’ founder Ben Keith in a series of five interviews, talks candidly about his early ambition to become a bookmaker, the humble beginnings of Star Sports, the pressures of taking on the high-rollers and his hopes for the future of the industry, plus plenty more besides. A real insight.
MEETING BEN KEITH (part 1)
In part 1. Star Sports’ founder and boss, Ben Keith, talks about his early days going to the dogs with his father, becoming the school bookie, early forays into betting at the dogs and betting shops and nearly going out of business after being knocked. It’s candid stuff.
MEETING BEN KEITH (part 2)
Star Sports boss Ben talks of a multi-million £ turnaround over a weekend. Big punters, how he manages to sleep at night, the best and worst parts about being a bookmaker.
MEETING BEN KEITH (part 3)
In this third part of our interview Ben talks about his passion for greyhound racing, sponsoring the Greyhound Derby, the sad decline in dog racing its causes and the betting exchanges. He also mentions his admiration for Coral betting shops. For dessert he touches on his food vlogs and love of eating out and the unusual ‘Matt Chapman’ reason why he does them.
MEETING BEN KEITH (part 4)
In part 4 Ben Keith, head of Star Sports bookmakers talks about how ‘the game’ could be improved. Encouraging younger people into bookmaking and moving forward. His thoughts on Nick Rust plus people that have helped him along the way.
MEETING BEN KEITH (part 5)
In the fifth and final part of our ‘Meeting Ben Keith’ interviews Ben talks about the pressure of the build-up to the big meetings, betting at the Greyhound Derby final at Towcester, Royal Ascot, Glorious Goodwood, Cheltenham and Epsom.
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Simon Nott is author of Skint Mob!: Tales from the Betting Ring