Sports Betting Blog

March 23, 2009 by Ben Filed under: Football 

Irish Bookmaker Paddypower is in danger on having a publicity stunt backfire again this season. The bookie, famous for its early payouts, had already coughed up to punters who backed Manchester United to win any of the three domestic trophies this season as well as to those on Stoke City being relegated.

However United’s successive losses to Liverpool and Fulham in the last eight days has reignited the title race whilst at the other end the woeful form of Newcastle and Middlesbrough has given Stoke some breathing space.

Last week United were one win away from going to 1/50 to win the league had they beaten Liverpool. Two defeats later and they are now just 1/3 – still odds on but with a battle on their hands rather than being home and dry. Their nearest rivals Liverpool are now 11/4 having previously drifted out as far as 28/1.

The Stoke payout had set an early payout record – the first time a season long bet had been paid out on the opening day of the season. Having lost to perennial strugglers Bolton on the first day of the season Stoke were all but written off however the James Beattie signing in January has proved inspired with Stoke edging from 2/5 in the relegation betting at the beginning of January to their current odds of 2/1.

Should United fail to win the league it will cost the bookie almost a million pound whilst the Stoke payout was around £30,000. The crazy Irish will still continue to run the offers though.

Paddy Power himself, said: “Our early payouts took a wobble at the weekend and, although the title remains United’s to lose, Liverpool’s five star performance produced the first bead of sweat on my brow. We like a gamble as much as our punters and were one game away from our opinion being proved right. Now though the Liverpool revival could leave us with egg on our faces.

“As for Stoke, their fans weren’t happy at the time but we’ll be the first to congratulate them if they prove us wrong.”

Premiership Winner Latest
1/3 Man Utd
11/4 Liverpool
16/1 Chelsea

Premiership Relegation Latest
1/16 West Brom
8/15 Middlesbrough
11/10 Newcastle
2/1 Stoke
9/4 Hull
9/2 Blackburn

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