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By Michelle Green
LONDON (Reuters) - The soccer stars of France and Argentina greeted their shock early exits from the World Cup with bowed heads and tears.
But in Britain, the bookmakers were laughing all the way to the bank.
"France being knocked out was worth several million pounds to the bookies in the UK -- the same with the Argentina match," said a spokesman for Coral Eurobet on Thursday.
"These results have put us in a very good position," he said. "They were very, very good results."
The British gambling industry estimates that it will handle more than 200 million pounds in bets during the World Cup tournament.
With most of the money placed on big-name countries, such as cup holders France and pre-tournament favourite Argentina, an unexpected departure from the competition allows the bookies to clean up.
The Portugal versus United States match was a prime example, according to the Coral Eurobet spokesman.
Despite being offered favourable odds, few British punters were persuaded to put their money on the Americans. Had Portugal won, the bookmakers could have made a loss. In the event the U.S. beat the Portuguese 3-2.
"British bookies made millions on that result," the spokesman said. "It was a real shock."
TOO SOON FOR PREDICTIONS
However, not all Britain's bookmakers are singing the virtues of shock results.
A spokesman for William Hill told Reuters it was too soon to make predictions on whether this World Cup would be any more lucrative for bookies than previous competitions.
"We have cleaned up on Argentina and France but had they stayed in we could have done better. We would have been able to carry on taking money on them," he said.
"Ultimately there can only be one winner and so some of the big teams are going to go out along the way."
In England, punters are so enthused they are backing England to win all three major sporting World Cup tournaments -- football, cricket and rugby union.
William Hill reported a flurry of bets for this unprecedented hat-trick on Thursday at odds of 350/1.
But for bookies, an England football World Cup victory would see their early profits flowing back into punters' pockets.
"The further England go, the more interest there is which is good for us, but if England were to win that would be very costly," the spokesman for Coral Eurobet said.
"For us the best final result would be England losing to Japan on penalties."
LONDON (Reuters) - The soccer stars of France and Argentina greeted their shock early exits from the World Cup with bowed heads and tears.
But in Britain, the bookmakers were laughing all the way to the bank.
"France being knocked out was worth several million pounds to the bookies in the UK -- the same with the Argentina match," said a spokesman for Coral Eurobet on Thursday.
"These results have put us in a very good position," he said. "They were very, very good results."
The British gambling industry estimates that it will handle more than 200 million pounds in bets during the World Cup tournament.
With most of the money placed on big-name countries, such as cup holders France and pre-tournament favourite Argentina, an unexpected departure from the competition allows the bookies to clean up.
The Portugal versus United States match was a prime example, according to the Coral Eurobet spokesman.
Despite being offered favourable odds, few British punters were persuaded to put their money on the Americans. Had Portugal won, the bookmakers could have made a loss. In the event the U.S. beat the Portuguese 3-2.
"British bookies made millions on that result," the spokesman said. "It was a real shock."
TOO SOON FOR PREDICTIONS
However, not all Britain's bookmakers are singing the virtues of shock results.
A spokesman for William Hill told Reuters it was too soon to make predictions on whether this World Cup would be any more lucrative for bookies than previous competitions.
"We have cleaned up on Argentina and France but had they stayed in we could have done better. We would have been able to carry on taking money on them," he said.
"Ultimately there can only be one winner and so some of the big teams are going to go out along the way."
In England, punters are so enthused they are backing England to win all three major sporting World Cup tournaments -- football, cricket and rugby union.
William Hill reported a flurry of bets for this unprecedented hat-trick on Thursday at odds of 350/1.
But for bookies, an England football World Cup victory would see their early profits flowing back into punters' pockets.
"The further England go, the more interest there is which is good for us, but if England were to win that would be very costly," the spokesman for Coral Eurobet said.
"For us the best final result would be England losing to Japan on penalties."
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