Accepting job with a betting agency - would it affect future prospects

pauliebdub

I've been offered a position in IT with a very well known betting agency and I'm very happy with what I'm being offered. However I was wondering if having a betting agency on my cv might affect future prospects, that it might be viewed negatively by other employers or even looked down on. I come from a financial services background. This hadn't occurred to me at all but a friend mentioned it earlier and it has me thinking. Any thoughts?

Stheno

If it's an Irish based betting agency who are big into devops and have had that published as one have I say go for it.

You'll be ahead of the curve

Atlantic Dawn

I can't see any issue, plenty of financial services companies fed peoples addiction for blowing money on credit cards in the same way betting company accept bets from gambling addicts. It's near impossible to find a company to work for with no ethical issues, like tax avoidance etc.

Del2005

Financial services companies gamble on the stock market so the difference between them and a gambling company would be lower stakes in the gambling company. I've never heard of a bookies inducing a world wide recession.

callaway92

I'd imagine that having a job with a betting industry here (assuming you are in the one in Cork or more than likely Ballsbridge) will be the golden ticket to any job you want in the future.

They are highly respected companies to have on your CV. I know more than one person who was previously working in a similar role with Paddy Power after graduating and after two years walked into a job with Twitter.

mickmackmcgoo

Working for that kind of company shouldn't affect any future role, it would probably be a good thing on your CV. One thing to think about though - I had a friend who worked in marketing in head office in Irelands best known bookmakers and he said one aspect he didn't like was the relentless encouragement to gamble yourself. Apparently it's actively promoted for staff to regularly gamble there and it's hard to avoid it

Moo Moo Land

No it wont, online betting IT systems need 3 things: Realtime, Accuracy and Performance.
All the IT systems in the world are looking to provide or improve all 3 as we move towards SaaS. Very good career move.

pauliebdub

pauliebdub wrote: »

......... that it might be viewed negatively by other employers or even looked down on...........

Not at all.
On the other hand it won't be the thing of greatness alluded to in some of the replies here either.

EagererBeaver

Any employer with their salt understands the importance of IT (and actuaries as well for example) to gambling companies. These companies demand high performance and are continuously recruiting and training their staff. Can't imagine anyone getting snobby about it.

I've worked for a betting company before, there was a huge turnover of staff (IT/data roles) so obviously people were able to find new jobs. You'll be fine, don't worry about it. It's the skills you develop that are important.

Canadel

mickmackmcgoo wrote: »

I had a friend who worked in marketing in head office in Irelands best known bookmakers and he said one aspect he didn't like was the relentless encouragement to gamble yourself. Apparently it's actively promoted for staff to regularly gamble there and it's hard to avoid it

Disgusting behaviour. But not surprised.

Canadel

Canadel wrote: »

Disgusting behaviour. But not surprised.

I was at a mathematics thing where a quantitative analyst employed by a large bookmaker was a speaker, the chap had no interest in sport or racing etc but he did mention that most of the traders/odds compilers were degenerate gamblers. It was tongue in cheek ish but I would think it had some factual basis.

Canadel

Canadel wrote: »

Disgusting behaviour. But not surprised.

If Ireland's best known betting company is thy one we're all thinking of, then betting with the company while you are working for them is considered gross misconduct.