Bookies bank on record weekend of sport
ByChris Johnston
Business reporter, BBC News
A bumper lineup of sport consisting of the Grand National, the Masters and Premier League video games, is expected to produce a record weekend for bookmakers.
The Grand National will bring in about ₤ 225m in wagers throughout the betting industry, William Hill predicted.
Combined with other sporting fixtures it expects to take "the greatest turnover levels on any weekend in history", the yohaig code bookie said.
Saturday's race is anticipated to be seen by 600 million people globally.
"The Grand National is the general public's race and we will see millions of once-a-year punters being available in to wagering stores or downloading the app," William Hill spokesperson Rupert Adams said.
The race is set to attract over 35 million bets with the average being worth ₤ 4.41.
William Hill is also hoping for another big-priced winner in the Grand National this promotion code year. The last 5 races have actually produced winners at odds 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 intending to become the yohaig code very first owner to win successive Nationals with different horses considering that 1954 after Rule the World, ridden by David Mullins, declared victory last year.
In 2015, the start time for the Grand National was moved by an hour to 17:15 BST. The decision showed to be a boost for turnover and William Hill expects that pattern to continue.
New sponsor
"The experiment of moving the start time really settled and we expect the Grand National to smash wagering records this year," Mr Adams said.
It is the first year that the race has actually been sponsored by Randox Health, which analyses blood and urine samples to discover and prevent health problems.
The Northern Ireland-based company was set up in 1982 by Dr Peter FitzGerald - an eager horse racing fan.
Meanwhile, the meeting at Aintree could be impacted by a 24-hour strike including members of the yohaig code Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) at Merseyrail and Arriva Trains North.
Tens of countless individuals travel by train from main Liverpool to the racecourse.
Jan Chaudhry-van der Velde, handling director Merseyrail, said the operator had designed a schedule aimed at carrying as numerous passengers as normal on Grand National day.
Andy Bell, from Bookies.com, external, said: "this promotion code is a bumper weekend of betting and the Grand National is frequently the occasion that sees individuals have a flutter for the very first time. The new start time means people are back from their Saturday shopping and activities and it is successfully the start of their Saturday evening celebrations. It's perfect timing."
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