1bn Betting Turnover Predicted For World Cup
11th June, 2010
Bookies worldwide are rubbing their hands together at the thought of unprecedented betting action for the world cup which kicks off today.
The developments in technology and huge interest in the world’s largest football competition is set to make this tournament the biggest ever betting event in Britain and probably the world.
Sportsbooks predict that turnover is likely to exceed one billion pounds which breaks all records. The increase in both online and mobile gambling is attracting more punters which increased overall wagering amounts.
"It's huge, really surging this week and going into a World Cup frenzy for football fans," Darren Haines, a spokesman for bookmakers Paddy Power. We anticipate one-billion-pounds being gambled industry-wide, and the further England go in the tournament, the more likely it is that this figure will be comfortably surpassed. It will be the biggest betting event in British history, without a doubt."
William Hill also predicts a £1bn World Cup turnover for the British betting industry.
"This is the World Cup in which Internet betting has really come into its own," spokesman Graham Sharpe."We have online clients in 188 countries who are betting on the World Cup, which dilutes the impact of everyone betting on England. If England reaches the final and loses on penalties to New Zealand that would be perfect for us."
The scheduled times of matches also help the bookies as all of the televised games from South Africa are at UK evening peak times. Ladbrokes predict that they could see up to 100 bets per second during the England vs. USA match in Rustenburg. In play betting has seen huge growth and could account for a third of all betting turnover with mobile phone betting set to break all records.
By Faye
