The jobs of eight people employed by William Hill are safe after the company’s two shops were bought by Ireland’s largest independent bookmaker.

Dundalk, County Louth based bookies BoyleSports has snapped up the two island shops in Douglas along with 33 in Northern Ireland for an undisclosed amount.

The shops were originally part of the Stanley Leisure chain that William Hill bought in 2005.

The two shops are in Douglas, in Castle Street and the Castlemona shops on the promenade.

A BoyleSports spokesman told Business News the company was currently looking to recruit ’one or two more cashiers’ as part of an ’extensive renovation’ of the two Isle of Man units.

’The two shops will also be rebranded as BoyleSports. Work on the rebranding and renovation will commence once the existing licence has been transferred to BoyleSports.’

Conor Gray, chief executive of BoyleSports, said: ’BoyleSports is delighted to realise its long-held ambition to develop a meaningful retail presence across Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man.

’This acquisition complements our existing retail network in Northern Ireland and our retail network in the Republic of Ireland while also representing a significant step in our long-stated ambition to develop our retail footprint across the UK.’

A William Hill spokesman told Business News: ’William Hill has taken the decision to sell its 33 shops in Northern Ireland and two shops in the Isle of Man to BoyleSports, Ireland’s largest independent bookmaker.

’Importantly colleagues in both Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man will transition to BoyleSports employment retaining all existing terms and conditions.

’We look forward to working with the BoyleSports team on a smooth transition and maintaining a great customer experience with shops retaining William Hill branding until they transition at the end of quarter one when the process completes.

’Outstanding bets with William Hill placed in these shops will stand and will simply transfer to BoyleSports.’

The acquisition will significantly strengthen the independent bookmaker’s foothold in Northern Ireland where tough licensing conditions make it difficult to open betting shops up from scratch.

Some industry sources are suggesting that BoyleSports has paid between £10 million and £15 million for the 33 Northern Ireland shops and two in the Isle of Man but this has not been confirmed.

This is BoyleSports’ largest acquisition to date, bringing its total number of shops in Northern Ireland to 39, its number of shops on the island of Ireland to 298 and its total retail footprint across Ireland and the British Isles to 317 shops.

The bookmaker said that the recent transactions were the result of its strategy to focus its attention on expanding its operations outside the Republic of Ireland due to the Irish government’s decision to double betting duties.

Sid Cunningham, area manager of Joe Jennings bookmakers, which has four shops in Douglas and one in Ramsey, told Business News he welcomed competition from rivals.

But he said retail bookies shops were ’feeling the pinch’ at the moment because of online competition and the cutting of stakes on FOBTS (fixed odds betting terminals) to £2 from £100.