Weekend Review: Bookies hail ‘perfect storm’ as World Cup favourites falter
Layers in clover as Spain, Argentina, Germany and Brazil all fail to win their opening group stage game
The first weekend of World Cup 2018 action was the ‘perfect storm’ for bookmakers, as a string of well-fancied favourites failed to deliver for punters.
Betway’s Alan Alger said: “Punters who were left disappointed that Argentina and Germany couldn’t land wins in their accas plumped for Brazil to get themselves back on track and came a cropper.
“There’s a very long way to go yet, but midway through week one you’d have to say that it’s the bookies with a 2-0 lead.”
Bet365’s Steve Freeth also couldn’t hide his delight at the results so far: “Bookmakers will have started their Monday with a spring in their step after a weekend littered with World Cup shocks,” he said.
“We’re aware it’s a marathon not a sprint but it’s been an extremely bookmaker-friendly tournament to date.”
Kindred revealed that Brazil’s draw with Switzerland made it into their top 10 list of all time favourable results.
FIM DE PARTIDA! A #SeleçãoBrasileira estreia na Copa com empate em 1 a 1 com a Suíça, gol de @Phil_Coutinho #WorldCup
?? 1-1 ?? | #BRAxSUI pic.twitter.com/3Qo1uqeUO9
— CBF Futebol (@CBF_Futebol) June 17, 2018
The Group’s Ali Gill told EGR: “The World Cup didn’t take long to throw up some shocks, and what a first few days we’ve had.
“So far, we’ve had 4 of the most fancied teams in the tournament either beaten or held to a draw, and with those scorelines have come some monster results for Kindred.
“The biggest win for us so far was last night’s draw between favourites Brazil and Switzerland, a result which comfortably made it in to our top 10 list of all time results.
“Spain, Germany and Argentina joined Brazil in failing to win their opener, and all helped put Kindred in a very strong position after the first 4 days.
“The punters will certainly be hoping for a change of fortune whilst we are hoping for more of the same.”
The focus at BetVictor was on the firm’s Million Pound Bet competition, which has a new leader after one punter landed a 3,360/1 shot in the Brazil game.
They said 1,470/1 couldn't be beaten…
They were wrong!
↔️Draw 1-1
⚽Coutinho 1st goal in the 1st half
❌Lichtsteiner carded in the 1st half#SUI over 1.5 cards#BRA over 6.5 corners➡️3,360/1
A new leader for #TheMillionPoundBet.
Will this one be our Millionaire? pic.twitter.com/XPC3Jl91eb
— BetVictor (@BetVictor) June 17, 2018
BV’s Charlie McCann said: “All winning bets on the leaderboard have come from our #PriceItUp Builder so far and we are delighted with results and numbers to date, although they are likely to go through the roof with England taking on Tunisia this evening.”
Away from the World Cup, Brooks Koepka became the first player since 1989 to defend a US Open title in the golf, his victory leaving Kindred ahead in the outright market.
“With so many of the big names struggling to fire, the tournament overall was another strong result for our traders,” added Gill.