THE Government is this week expected to reveal its preferred bidder for the state-owned Tote bookmaker with Warrington-based Betfred believed to be the frontrunner.
The Wigan-based Tote comprises 500 high street and on-course betting shops and a pools betting operation.
With a turnover of £3.5bn Betfred is the North West’s largest firm and operates more than 800 high street betting shops.
The company has enjoyed phenomenal growth, with turnover having been at £550m just seven years ago.
The sale of the Tote is expected to raise around £200m and more than a dozen parties have expressed an interest.
The bidders include a consortium led by former Liverpool FC chairman Sir Martin Broughton.
Gaming giant Coral dropped out at an earlier stage. Walton-based pools firm Sportech is not a main bidder but is interested in partnering with the successful bidder to run the Tote’s pools betting division.
