Weekend Review: No magic in the FA Cup for the bookies
Three Premier League draws offset FA Cup losses as Amir Kahn’s return to the ring knocks out the layers
To borrow an old football cliché, it was a game of two halves for the bookies this weekend.
Only five Premier League matches took place and the layers were delighted to see three draws, including Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off between basement club West Brom and Liverpool.
Elsewhere, there were two punter-friendly results in the FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley, where Manchester United despatched Tottenham and Chelsea sailed through against Southampton.
Kindred Group’s Ali Gill said: “The Premier League went the way of the layers this weekend with three draws and no surprise the biggest winner for us was Liverpool’s draw with West Brom.
“With Liverpool taking a two goal lead, we took the in-play money as well.
“However, the FA Cup was a vastly different story as punters streaked ahead, with the Man Utd vs Spurs game by far the biggest hit, taking with it our Premier League profit and more.”
It was a similar story at BetVictor, where Charlie McCann said: “Saturday’s football wasn’t great despite Liverpool surrendering a two-goal lead at the Hawthorns.
“United were the best of two losers for the bookies at Wembley in the first semi- and there was a certain inevitability when they came back to lead.
“Atletico’s 0-0 home draw saved the day yesterday after a poor day domestically with Chelsea, Arsenal and City all well backed.”
Shane McLaughlin, director of exchange at Ladbrokes Coral revealed one Betdaq punter laid Manchester United to lose just after half-time, with Mourinho’s men costing them £8,600.
In the boxing, BetVictor had to pay out after offering a Bet Boost on Amir Khan to win in the first three rounds at 13/2.
Khan duly knocked out the Canadian Phil Lo Greco within 39 seconds during his first fight in two years.
?Amir Khan's last fight was just under 2 years ago.
Can he make light work of Phil Lo Greco tonight on his comeback?
He's 1/20 to win, but 13/2 with our #BetBoost to win in Rounds 1-3.
Your best bet? Back it ? https://t.co/qBN1Ma9CpH#KhanLoGreco pic.twitter.com/e99MVlIEZF
— BetVictor (@BetVictor) April 21, 2018
“We didn’t know that one of his fellow I’m a Celebrity contestants would have more fight in them than Lo Greco,” added McCann.
Betfred’s Matt Crosby said the firm recouped some FA Cup losses during the snooker after reigning champion Mark Selby went out in the first round of the World Snooker Championship.