This is one of the most spacious bookies I've been in. It has plenty of seating and plenty of…read morescreens with odds of horse-racing, football (that's soccer, although you can bet on American Football in bookies here too), and various other sporting events. It also has plenty of comfortable seating and tables with newspapers for you to peruse the race-cards and write your bets out. The difference in betting shops since the smoking ban in here is amazing, although there was something very 'old-style movie' when doing a bet and watching the racing through a cloud of rising smoke. Of course, the bookies also benefited a few years back with the abolition of betting tax (originally 10% of your bet, then 9%, then wiped out altogether after the national lottery was in full swing). This bookies used to be owned by McCartan's bookmakers, which was a very small string of bookies, but Ladbroke's bought them over when they bought over Eastwood's, which was a well-established local bookies with a lot of shops. Unfortunately, Ladbroke's don't always feel the need to compete with other bookies, and the fact that they currently don't give a 20% bonus in the unlikely event of your Lucky 15 coming up means that you may as well go to the Paddy Power bookies which is a two-minute walk away (see my review).

Betting is something I have never found myself being particularly skilled at. My distinct lack of…read moreinterest in all things sport may be the reason for my downfall in this regard but on the very rare occasion - after one or two pints of the foaming ale I've opted for a punt. This particular branch of William Hill is more or less identical to the many across the UK and Ireland. I put a bet on a random horse race that was about 10 minutes away from starting when I came in. I tried my best to look as educated in the ways of the betting man but I think I just came across as beleaguered and confused. My whopping £2 bet left me with a £2 hole in my pocket - alas I didn't win a thing, but it was of course the brief, slightly tipsy experience that counted.

I sometimes like to lose money. When I feel like doing that, I do it in a way I know that's almost…read moreguaranteed to leave my pockets lighter than they were before. Betting on Tottenham. This place like many other bookies, has that stench of desperation and old smoke, despite the fact that people couldn't smoke there for years. It looks pretty much the exact same as every other branch of William Hill around the country, they uniformity policy being 2nd to none. The staff are hidden behind their bullet proof glass and think this safe guard gives them leave of their manners and they can be as rude as they like. Thank god I only bet once a blue moon.

If you're in Belfast city centre and you're a bit fed up tagging along and carrying bags for the…read moremissus while she shops, and you enjoy the occasional bet, this could be a nice place for you to pass the time (assuming that, for some reason, you can't pass the time in a nearby hostelry). This bookies is spacious and comfortable. It probably has the most screens of any bookies I've been in, ensuring you miss none of the horse-racing or greyhound racing. Screen after screen lists odds, results, special bets, and shows the racing. There's also a good bit of seating in here, with benches and chairs throughout the shop, and no shortage of newspapers for you to make your selections. This bookies is always busy, being positioned in a place where people going into, and leaving, the city centre can easily access it. There's many a punter in here just killing time until they get summonsed to go to meet the missus and carry the bags of shopping that've been accumulated.

I am not a massive gambler, but I do like a flutter from time to time, especially a Saturday…read morespecial football accumulator. When I do place a bet I usually come to this bookies, it is really well laid out and simple, the betting sheets are readily available and the generally have the list of matches available. This is a great place to hang around horse racing experts and copy their bets, I have done this on a few occasions and it has paid off. If you are not sure what an expert will look like I will give you a brief description; Male- Gambling is generally a male dominated sport. Over 40-Being an expert is all about experience. Glasses- Poor eyesight from squinting at the horse racing small print. Rolled up newspaper in pocket- Usually the racing post. Nicotine stained teeth- lets face it gambling is pretty stressful, so he will need the odd cigarette. But you must remember using this technique of gambling is hazardous, gamblers don't like when you get to close and they are sometimes wrong in their predictions. Overall William Hill is excellent for a little flutter, the girls who work there are really helpful and will be sure to give you the best odds available and even a cheeky little tip.

Ladbrokes On queens parade was previously Eastwoods bookmakers and this outlet has been a bookies…read morefor years and years. It used to be owned by the infamous Barney Eastwood until Ladbrokes bought it over. I think it is funny how they didn't change the location as if scared to mess with the gamblers natural habitat. This bookies is unlike any other bookies really, it is bright and airy and by contrast you can easily keep track of time. I pooped in the other Saturday on my way to a football match and put a cheeky pound on an accumulator and the experience was very pleasant. The slips were right at the door and thankfully I did not have to use a recycled chewed up pen. There are no gaming machines in this bookies and this might explain why there is no real loitering. The punters are in and out with no fuss at all. The girls at the checkout were particularly cheery maybe it was because they had got there Vitamin D from the Sun that day and they were enjoying the sea breeze.

William Hill is located on Skipper Street which is a weird place for a bookmakers. Plonked next to…read moreone of Belfast's best pubs, The Spaniard and opposite the opulent Merchant Hotel it feels out of place. But I suppose there must be market for it. I don't often have a flutter but when I do it's usually ridiculously outrageous to the point where if it came off I'd be Yelping from Barbados. But today I was passing this William Hill and I thought, you know what my ginger pasty skin could do with some red/pink in it so I went in to William Hill and placed a cheeky 50p! This William Hill seems to have it all, plasma screen TV's on the wall, betting slips for every football match and a seating area located opposite the TV's. Almost as plush as it's neighbour, The Merchant. Seems to have everything a bookmaker needs as well as a few extras. Worth popping in here if you want a flutter and are in the City Centre.

Your standard bookies really, if you've been to a Sean Graham store before then you'll know what to…read moreexpect, if you haven't here's the main points.... Modern decor with a few screens to watch the horse racing or dogs, plenty of slips on offer, including football specials. Manned counters with staff willing to help. They are the basics really. Not too many people actually venture in to these store because of how easy it is to have a dabble online so the clientele of this store is a little older and a little weathered. Saturday's is the busiest day for obvious reasons!

This is usually the last stop off for me and my friend Gary if me and him have a particularly big…read morenight out in town and want to waste even more money having a bit of a gamble. There are all sorts of machines and games to play. Gary and I usually spend all of our time and money on roulette and we have done ok some nights in the past. I think I'm pretty much even for all my trips here, which I think isn't bad. There are also some high stakes slots and poker tables. Poker isn't for me but I don't mind the slots. I would just make sure you know what you're doing before you put in some money because it can disappear pretty quickly if you are playing at the highest stakes. A fun night out or fun to play until 3am, just make sure you set a budget or you could wake up with that terrible sinking feeling the next morning.