British online bookmakers are off to a bumper start as the 2018 FIFA World Cup tournament enters its second week, according to payment processing company Worldpay.
The firm’s analysis of consumer spending data during England’s opening group match against Tunisia revealed that online betting activity soared by 50 percent ahead of England’s opening game. Much of the wagering action happened just before 5 p.m. on Monday, with Worldpay reportedly processing at least 78 bets per second.
However, the payment processing firm noted that the average spend per deposit was 7 percent lower this year, with more casual punters jumping in the wagering action.
“Football fans are not the only ones celebrating England’s win; Britain’s businesses also scored big as supporters bet big during England’s clash with Tunisia,” Worldpay’s Growth – Digital Content & Gambling Vice President Daniel Belda said in a statement.
If the English team manages to avoid an early exit, Belda believes that gambling operators will have a field day with every 90-minutes of play boosting their businesses by half.
Punters also went all out during the Spain vs. Portugal match last Friday. Worldpay noted that bets on Spain beating Portugal surged by 65 percent. However, last Friday’s thriller ended with a draw after the 2010 World Cup champion failed to contain Portugal’s golden boy Cristiano Ronaldo, who pulled off a hat trick.
Wagers made on Australia rose 58 percent as the underdogs faced the heavily favored French team in a David vs. Goliath showdown last Saturday. The Socceroos eventually succumbed after a late Paul Pogba goal that helped the French break the deadlock and win 2-1.
“The World Cup will be a welcome windfall for certain sectors, with online bookmakers in particular set for one of the busiest months of the year,” Belda said.
