Bookmakers count cost of coupon carnage
BOOKMAKERS were yesterday counting the cost of another unusually great night for favourite-backers on Tuesday.
Champions League favourites Barcelona and Juventus both won, along with all seven odds-on shots in the Championship and there was only one draw in the 19 Football League games.
It was another big night for accumulator punters after historically bad results for bookmakers on January 17, when the 12 most popular selections on Coral's coupon all won, and Boxing Day, when eight of ten Premier League jollies copped.
"We were on the wrong end of a £9m deficit. It was accumulator heaven for punters," said bet365's Steve Freeth, while Coral's John Hill added: "We anticipate the industry loss to be in the region of £50 million".
Ladbrokes reported that one customer had used a free bet to turn a 13-fold acca into £81,611, while Coral said they have paid out more than £100,000 on a £10 14-team bet.