Bookies bet on record weekend of sport
ByChris Johnston
Business reporter, BBC News
A bumper lineup of sport including the Grand National, the Masters and Premier League video games, is anticipated to produce a record weekend for bookmakers.
The Grand National will draw in about ₤ 225m in wagers across the wagering market, William Hill anticipated.
Combined with other sporting fixtures it anticipates to take "the highest turnover levels on any weekend in history", the bookmaker said.
Saturday's race is anticipated to be seen by 600 million individuals worldwide.
"The Grand National is the public's race and we will see countless once-a-year punters being available in to betting stores or downloading the app," William Hill representative Rupert Adams said.
The race is set to attract over 35 million bets with the average being worth ₤ 4.41.
William Hill is likewise wishing for another big-priced winner in the Grand National this promotion code year. The last five races have produced winners at chances of 33/1, 25/1, 25/1 and 33/1.
Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary owns 5 of the 40 horses in Saturday's field.
He is wanting to end up being the very first owner to win consecutive Nationals with various horses given that 1954 after Rule the World, ridden by David Mullins, declared success in 2015.
Last year, the start time for the Grand National was moved by an hour to 17:15 BST. The decision proved to be a boost for turnover and William Hill expects that pattern to continue.
New sponsor
"The experiment of moving the start time actually paid off and we anticipate the Grand National to smash wagering records this promotion code year," Mr Adams stated.
It is the very first year that the race has been sponsored by Randox Health, which analyses blood and urine samples to identify and prevent diseases.
The Northern Ireland-based company was established in 1982 by Dr Peter FitzGerald - an eager horse racing fan.
Meanwhile, the meeting at Aintree might be impacted by a 24-hour strike including members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) at Merseyrail and Arriva Trains North.
Tens of thousands of individuals travel by train from main Liverpool to the racecourse.
Jan Chaudhry-van der Velde, handling director Merseyrail, stated the operator had developed a timetable focused on carrying as numerous passengers as regular on Grand National day.
Andy Bell, from Bookies.com, external, stated: "this promotion code is a bumper weekend of betting and the Grand National is often the occasion that sees individuals have a flutter for the very very first time. The new start time indicates individuals are back from their Saturday shopping and activities and it is efficiently the start of their Saturday evening festivities. It's best timing."
Aintree prepared for Grand National
Pinstickers' guide to the Grand National
6 April 2017
Family cash in 1974 Grand National wager
7 April 2017
