Brave(?) Punter Backs Liverpool To The Tune Of £44,000

William Hill took their biggest pre-season bet so far as one gutsy punter in Liverpool put down £44,000 on his side to win the league (£22,000 e/w). The man, in his mid thirties and a Liverpool fan, backed his side at 25/1 and William Hill have now cut their odds to 16/1 for them to win the title. Should Liverpool win the League he will scoop £777,333.33 and should they finish second, he will pick up £205,333.33.

“The football has gone largely unnoticed while the Olympics has been going on although there has been a steady stream of bets on Liverpool winning the title, mainly from the North West,” said William Hill spokesman Joe Crilly. “There has not been that much movement in or out of Anfield this summer but despite this, Liverpool now constitute around 40% of all stakes that we have taken on the Premier League winner market.”

English Premier League winner: 6/5 Manchester City; 5/2 Manchester City; 5/1 Chelsea; 12/1 Arsenal; 16/1 Liverpool; 25/1 Tottenham; 150/1 BAR

Joe Crilly
Press Officer

Twitter: @footy_joe

T: 0208 918 3746
M: 07850 518 164
E: jcrilly@williamhill.co.uk

Read more

Scottish Premier League Bet

Match of the Day is not yet on our TV screens but the new soccer season has already started you know. Outside the Premiership quite a few leagues are already underway. The Socottish Premiership is one of them. With the relegation of Rangers it looks to be a one horse race in the ante post […]

Read more

Euro Final Set To Be Biggest Since World Cup Final

Up to 500 bets per minute are set to be placed on tonight’s Euros Final once the game kicks off, report William Hill. Anywhere up to £25 million is expected to have been wagered on the match in the build up to the game in the UK alone. “The final of any major tournament is always going to be a massive draw for our punters and they have already been getting involved with gusto. As things stand, over half of all bets placed have been for Spain to win,” said Hill’s spokesman Joe Crilly. “This match is set to be the biggest since the World Cup Final in 2010.”

Spain are 23/20 to win the match in 90 minutes, with Italy 11/4 and the draw 21/10. Spain are 8/15 to lift the trophy, while Italy are 6/4 to do so. Hills are offering a couple of matchwinners for tonight’s game, going 7/1 for Balotelli to score and Italy to win in 90 minutes, while the same price is offered for Iniesta to score anytime and Spain to win in 90 minutes. The match is 4/1 to go to penalties.

Llorente and Torres are the 6/1 favourites to open the scoring tonight, but should Del Bosque decide that he wants to start with no strikers once again, Fabregas and Pedro are offered at 7/1 and 9/1 repectively. Mario Balotelli looks the most likely to score for the Italians at 7/1.

Euro Final:

90 minutes: 23/20 Spain; 11/4 Italy; 21/10 Draw

Lift the trophy: 8/15 Spain; 6/4 Italy

Match to go to penalties: 4/1

First scorer: 6/1 Fernando Llorente; 6/1 Fernando Torres; 7/1 Mario Balotelli; 7/1 Cesc Fabregas; 7/1 Alvaro Negredo; 9/1 Pedro; 9/1 Antonio Di Natale; 10/1 BAR

Joe Crilly
Press Officer

Twitter: @footy_joe

T: 0208 918 3746
M: 07850 518 164
E: jcrilly@williamhill.co.uk

Read more

Spain To Make History In Biggest Match Since World Cup Final?

UP TO 500 BETS PER MINUTE TO BE PLACED

Up to £25 million is set to be bet on this year’s Euros Final with Spain the 6/5 favourites with William Hill and Italy 13/5. Over the course of the two semi finals, 82,209 bets were staked in-play (while the match is being played), equating to 391 bets per minute and 7 bets per second, but Hills are expecting this to increase to around 500 bets per minute at some points during the Final.

“Despite England being nowhere near this game, we are still expecting turnover to be huge on this game,” said Hill’s spokesman Joe Crilly. “We think that the game itself will approach the £25 million mark industry wide, which would place it at a similar level to the 2010 World Cup Final and would far exceed any game of football that has been played since then.”

The match is expected to be a relatively close affair and is 21/10 to end level at 90 minutes and is 4/1 to go to penalties. Spain are 8/15 to lift the trophy while Italy are 6/4 to do so. Spain could become the first European side to win back to back major tournaments and it is 4/6 that the next tournament that they fail to win is the World Cup in Brazil, although they are 25/1 to not lose a tournament until at least the 2018 World Cup.

“Over the last four years or so, Spain have become the model that every other international side wants to emulate and they are a once in a lifetime side,” said Hill’s spokesman Joe Crilly. “By winning the Final on Saturday, they could cement their place as the best European side to ever play the game.”

Mario Balotelli was the architect of Italy’s victory against Germany in the Semi Final and he is 7/1 to score the first goal, while Hills are also offering the same price for Super Mario to score and Italy to win.

Spain’s performances in this tournament have been highlighted by patient, possession football and William Hill are 9/4 that they have between 60% and 65% of the match possession and 5/2 that they have 66% or more. Spain could become the first European side to win three back to back tournaments

Euro 2012 Final:

90 minutes: 6/5 Spain; 13/5 Italy; 21/10 Draw

To lift the trophy: 8/15 Spain; 6/4 Italy

Match to go to penalties: 4/1

First scorer: 6/1 Fernando Llorente; 6/1 Fernando Torres; 7/1 Mario Balotelli; 7/1 Cesc Fabregas; 7/1 Alvaro Negredo; 9/1 Pedro; 9/1 Antonio Di Natale; 10/1 BAR

When will Spain fail to win a major tournament: 6/4 Euro 2012; 4/6 World Cup 2014; 8/1 Euro 2016; 25/1 World Cup 2018 or later

How much possession will Spain have during the game: 12/1 50% or less; 5/2 51-55%; 7/4 56-60%; 9/4 60-65%; 5/2 66% or more

Joe Crilly
Press Officer

Twitter: @footy_joe

T: 0208 918 3746
M: 07850 518 164
E: jcrilly@williamhill.co.uk

Read more

33/1 For Two More Shootouts…spain Favourites

A draw in the Spain/Portugal was a fantastic result for the bookmakers, with William Hill reporting that just 7% of all bets on the 90 minutes market were placed on the draw. “Spain had 56% of all bets and so anything avoiding a win would have been good for us, but a draw, coupled with the fact that Ronaldo failed to find the net resulted in a fantastic night for us,” said Hill’s spokesman Joe Crilly.

After being the second game in a row to go to penalties, William Hill are offering 33/1 that the second semi final and the final both go to penalties. The Germany/Italy game is 33/1 to go to penalties.

Spain have made it through to the final of the Euros and William Hill make them the 5/6 favourites to win the tournament now with Germany 7/4 and Italy 6/1.

Tournament winner: 5/6 Spain; 7/4 Germany; 6/1 Italy

Top goalscorer: 4/6 Mario Gomez; 10/1 Alan Dzagoev; 10/1 Mario Mandzukic; 10/1 Cristiano Ronaldo; 14/1 Fernando Torres; 20/1 Cesc Fabregas; 25/1 BAR

Joe Crilly
Press Officer

Twitter: @footy_joe

T: 0208 918 3746
M: 07850 518 164
E: jcrilly@williamhill.co.uk

Read more

Biggest Football Day Of The Year So Far…10 Bets A Second To Be Placed

William Hill are expecting the England/Italy match to turnover in the region of £18m for British bookmakers, taking more than any of England’s group games, more than the Champions League Final and more than the title deciding Manchester derby at the end of last season. The turnover figures are boosted by the fact that the match is so close, with William Hill unable to separate the two sides. England are 9/5 to win in 90 minutes with the Italians the same price and the draw 19/10. Both sides are 10/11 to qualify.

“This match is going to be keenly contested and very tight and we expect that this will drive turnover higher than it has been at any point throughout the course of the tournament,” said Hill’s spokesman Joe Crilly. “Despite the fact that we are expecting a huge day on Sunday, that will be dwarfed should England win and face Germany in the semis.”

During the final group game of England’s campaign against Ukraine, William Hill took 6 bets per second and that number is set to increase to around 10 with up to £1.5m set to be staked in play.

All eyes will undoubtedly be on the mercurial talents of both Wayne Rooney and Mario Balotelli and William Hill are offering 12/1 that Balotelli sees red and 14/1 that Rooney does. It is 6/1 for either player to be sent off. Hills make Mad Mario 8/11 to be booked before Rooney (who is 4/1 to be booked before his Manchester City counterpart). Rooney is 9/2 to score the first goal, with Balotelli 11/2 to do so.

England have scored three headed goals in the tournament and William Hill make England 4/1 to score a headed goal against Italy. They have also taken advantage of their opportunities when they have (not so frequently) arisen and Italy are unsurprisingly 8/13 to have more shots on target.

England’s performances have been typified by their resilient performances while not having much of the ball and they are 4/1 to have less than 40% of the possession in their match vs Italy.

90 minutes: 9/5 England; 9/5 Italy; 19/10 draw

To qualify: 10/11 England; 10/11 Italy

Man of the match: 5/1 Steven Gerrard; 5/1 Andrea Pirlo; 6/1 Wayne Rooney; 7/1 Mario Balotelli; 7/1 Antonio Cassano; 8/1 Andy Carroll; 8/1 Danny Welbeck; 8/1 Antonio Di Natale; 10/1 BAR

England possession: 4/1 less than 40%; 4/6 40-50%; 7/4 51% or more
*settled by UEFA.com post match

Most shots on target: 8/13 Italy; 6/5 England
*settled by UEFA.com post match

4/1 England to score a headed goal

To be booked first: 4/1 Rooney; 8/11 Ballotelli; 5/4 neither booked

Joe Crilly
Press Officer

Twitter: @footy_joe

T: 0208 918 3746
M: 07850 518 164
E: jcrilly@williamhill.co.uk

Read more

Rooney Return To Push Three Lions Into Quarter Finals

Wayne Rooney returns to the England team on Tuesday night as they look to rubber stamp qualification to the quarter finals with victory over the co hosts Ukraine.

Roy Hodgson is ready to unleash Rooney on Euro 2012 after sitting out the opening two fixtures leading William Hill to produce special prices around the England man.
In a Goals Match Bet, Rooney is 7/2 to score more than the Ukraine. It is 1/1 for the tie. He is 4/11 to score no goals on Tuesday, 9/4 to score one, 9/1 for two and 33/1 to find the net three or more times.

The Three Lions could yet fail to qualify. They are 9/4 to finish third in the group and 2/1 to win the group. William Hill believe they will finish second at 11/10 and qualify for the next round where they will play the winner of Group C.

“Carroll, Walcott and Welbeck all scored against Sweden but Rooney is the X Factor in the England team and with barely a half of football under his belt in the last month he will be itching to go out there and prove his worth for England,” said William Hill spokesman Mark Young.

England Finishing Position: 2/1 Winner, 11/10 Second, 9/4 Third.

Goals Match Bet: 7/2 Rooney, 1/1 Tie, 5/4 Ukraine

Rooney Goals Vs Ukraine: 4/11 Zero, 9/4 One, 9/1 Two, 33/1 Three or More
*Bets are void if Rooney doesn’t start

Group D winner: 8/15 France; 2/1 England; 6/1 Ukraine

Group D to qualify (not to): 1/200 France (25/1); 2/7 England (5/2); 5/2 Ukraine (2/7)

Joe Crilly
Press Officer

Twitter: @footy_joe

T: 0208 918 3746
M: 07850 518 164
E: jcrilly@williamhill.co.uk

Read more

383 Bets Per Minute As England Fight Back To Defeat Sweden

Following England’s stunning victory over Sweden on Friday night William Hill are sweating. This is due to the fact that British bookmakers could be forking out over £10m should the Three Lions go on and win the trophy.

“Despite the turmoil that faced the England team just months before the tournament was to begin, patriotic punters have gone mad for England and they are by far the worst result for us at this moment in time,” said Hill’s spokesman Joe Crilly. “The two opening performances of the tournament have more than justified our punter’s support as well.”

During the game 34,504 bets were staked with Hills, equating to 383 bets per minute and 6 bets per second on the outcome of the game. England were still relatively well fancied when they were 2-1 down and punters were piling into them at 2/1.

Joe Crilly
Press Officer

Twitter: @footy_joe

T: 0208 918 3746
M: 07850 518 164
E: jcrilly@williamhill.co.uk

Read more

Euros Group A: Punters Have Made Their Minds Up Already

2004 winners of the Euros, Greece are 10/3 to qualify for the knockout stages of the event with Russsia (1/10) and Czech Republic (4/5) the two favourites to make it through. Greece will have to defeat Russia and are 4/1 to do so, while also hoping for a draw in the Poland/Czech Republic game – offered at 9/4.

Punters do not hold out much hope for the Greeks, however, with Russia backed, at this early stage, to the tune of over 90% of all bets staked on the match. Russia represent one of Hill’s biggest liabilities to win the tournament as well, with a six figure sum to be paid out if they manage to upset the pre tournament odds of 20/1.

“Going into the final round of games in Group A, there is still so much to play for, but our punters certainly seem to have made their minds up already,” said Hill’s spokesman Joe Crilly.

Poland have also been very well backed by punters ahead of their game against Czech Republic, with 82% of all early bets staked on them to win.

Group A

4/1 Greece; 8/11 Russia; 5/2 Draw
23/10 Czech Republic; 5/4 Poland; 9/4 Draw

Winner: 3/10 Russia; 4/1 Czech Republic; 7/1 Poland; 33/1 Greece

To qualify (not to): 1/10 Russia (11/2); 4/5 Czech Republic (10/11); 11/10 Poland (4/6); 10/3 Greece (1/5)

Joe Crilly
Press Officer
Twitter: @footy_joe

T: 0208 918 3746
M: 07850 518 164
E: jcrilly@williamhill.co.uk

Read more

Roy’s Dilemma: Carroll And Welbeck Both 5/6 To Start…england 10/1 For Euros Glory

Danny Welbeck and Andy Carroll both got onto the scoresheet in Kiev and William Hill cannot decide who will partner Wayne Rooney of the pair in England’s next match. Carroll is 5/6 to start against the Ukraine with Danny Welbeck the same price. Wayne Rooney is 1/20 to start England’s next match.

“Both Welbeck and Carroll did their chances of starting against Ukraine no harm, grabbing a goal apiece but with the top dog returning it seems likely that it will be either/or rather than both who start,”said Hill’s spokesman Joe Crilly.

England’s starting XI went in at half time one goal up but 15 minutes later found themselves 2-1 down. With Wayne Rooney to return vs Ukraine, Hills offer 12/1 that Hodgson sticks with the same starting XI. After his superb cameo, Theo Walcott is 6/4 to start against Ukraine although a potential injury picked up against Sweden may prevent him from taking part

England are now 2/7 to qualify from Group D, 2/1 to win it and 10/1 to win Euro 2012.

To start vs Ukraine: 1/20 Rooney; 5/6 Carroll; 5/6 Welbeck

6/4 Walcott to start vs Ukraine (opposite not offered due to potential injury)
*bets void if announced he won’t play any part vs Ukraine due to injury

12/1 Starting XI to start vs Ukraine

Group D outright: 8/15 France; 2/1 England; 6/1 Ukraine

Group D to qualify (not to): 1/200 France (25/1); 2/7 England (5/2); 5/2 Ukraine (2/7)

Euro 2012 outright: 9/4 Spain; 5/2 Germany; 7/1 France; 10/1 England; 12/1 Italy; 12/1 Rusia; 14/1 Portugal; 33/1 Holland; 33/1 Croatia; 50/1 Poland; 66/1 Czech Republic; 66/1 Denmark; 100/1 Ukraine; 200/1 Greece

Joe Crilly
Press Officer

Twitter: @footy_joe

T: 0208 918 3746
M: 07850 518 164
E: jcrilly@williamhill.co.uk

Read more