Weekend Review: Bookies laud best weekend yet as big guns drop points
Arsenal, Spurs and Manchester City slip-ups boosts profits for the layers
Bookmakers were celebrating one of its best weekends of the season yet after a host of Premier League favourites failed to emerge victorious.
Ladbrokes described Saturday’s trading as “one of the best we’ve had all year” with results in England’s top flight division proving very much in favour of the layers.
“A superb set of results this weekend with absolutely no complaints from us,” Ladbrokes’ Jessica Bridge said. “The satchel is overflowing thanks to the likes of Arsenal, Spurs, Man City and even PSG.”
William Hill said the weekend’s trading was its best of the season so far, with Arsenal’s home draw against Middlesbrough a key contribution and Norwich’s loss to Preston North End a welcome bonus.
Hills’ most popular selection on Sunday also failed to win, with Manchester City struggling to a home draw against Southampton. “This, allied to good European results with Paris SG and Atletico Madrid not winning meant a bumper weekend,” said William Hill’s Rupert Adams.
The Gunners’ failure to overcome the Boro at home provided the biggest contribution to Unibet’s kitty too, according to William Vickery, in what he described as a “terrific weekend” for the firm.
“Man United were continually backed in live to at least score a goal and Southampton held out to save us from a huge negative swing,” added Vickery.
This weekend saw the start of BetVictor’s new weekly game Golden Goal, which takes a similar approach to its successful Euro 2016 campaign Million Pound Goal.
No one correctly predicted the correct timing of Pedro’s goal against Manchester United, but BetVictor’s Charlie McCann reveals just how close punters came to netting the initial £100,000 jackpot.
“Spare a thought for the three punters who agonisingly predicted Pedro to score the opening goal in the third minute in the game between Chelsea and Manchester United,” said McCann.
“We are thrilled just how popular week one was and the prize rolls-over to £125,000 for Sunday’s Southampton v Chelsea clash,” added McCann.