Entrepreneur gambles on gaming site

A MANCHESTER entrepreneur has taken a punt with a new gambling website.

John Bagnall and his partner Andrew Denbigh have launched One in a Million (www.oiam.co.uk) which they say mixes the chance of a lottery draw with an online game that requires skill.

The business already employs 18 people. Mr Bagnall is hoping to attract one million members and revenues of £2m in the first year.

He said: “We are very confident about the future. In our experience people have become disillusioned with games of luck where you have no control, whilst the skill involved with online poker games and the like can leave most players in the dark.

“OIAM is a fusion of the two – it is a player versus player model which allows gamers to exercise a level of skill whilst also maintaining an element of luck.”

Mr Bagnall who has worked closely with advisers at the accountancy firm Grant Thornton on the project.

John Shinnick, leader of the entrepreneurial advisory team at Grant Thornton, said: “Consumers have certainly shown a lot of enthusiasm for online gambling as broadband penetration has improved and products evolved. Online gaming is considered a high growth area as cash-strapped governments around the world consider relaxing current online gaming rules and restrictions in order to provide a much needed boost to tax revenues.”