A betting shop is a licensed off-course venue in the UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand where punters can place bets in person, often operated by chains like William Hill and Ladbrokes. Off-course betting was illegal until the Betting and Gaming Act 1960, and today the industry is strictly regulated by the Gambling Commission and the Gambling Act 2005. At their peak in 2016, there were around 9,000 shops in the UK, though many closed permanently during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. These shops evolved from secretive venues with hidden radios to modern sports-bar-like spaces with large TVs and free refreshments, after a ban on live broadcasts was lifted in 1986 with the creation of Satellite Information Services. The industry has faced significant controversy over fixed-odds betting terminals, leading to a £2 stake limit in 2019, and while children under 18 are banned, a 2009 investigation found that 98 out of 100 shops would allow them to bet.