SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
TXODDS is fast making a name for itself in sports betting and is looking to continue that by sponsoring this year’s Betting on Football Conference at Stamford Bridge on April 21st.
TXODDS is a data company specialised in the aggregation and global distribution of real time betting odds.
We spoke to Head of TXTRADER Kelly Eden about his Euro 2016 predictions and why TXODDS decided to get involved with this year’s #bofcon.
SBC: Why did you choose to become a sponsor of this year’s #bofcon?
Kelly Eden: We sponsored last year and felt it was a success. We enjoyed the talks and made some key contacts. As Betting on Football’s popularity grows we want to retain our involvement at the event which we feel is relevant for us.
SBC: What’s the most important thing for operators to get right ahead of Euro 2016, and what’s the most challenging aspect of major international competitions such as this?
Kelly Eden: Working with many of the industry’s biggest names, our services are in use at the front line of trading rooms globally, where the focus lies on real time, accurate and relevant data.
Like the World Cup, the European Championships are every four years with the whole of the footballing world watching. Odds changes are key, especially end of group games or dead rubber games that have an impact on the match odds and thus affects every market in that particular match.
Keeping up with all the various and new markets is so essential, as there are hundreds of various pre-match betting markets on each individual game. In-play betting has really taken off in the last couple of years and is now for your everyday punter and not just traders or serious punters.
Market Moves, odds dropping, and team news are very important to TXTRADER service.
SBC: How important is the sport of football to your business?
Kelly Eden: In sports betting, football is number one. Gambling on football is a huge and growing global industry worth billions of pounds per year. Betting on football have become a worldwide phenomenon.
Some estimations suggest the sports match-betting industry is worth anywhere between £500 – £650 billion a year. The growth of the internet and mobile devices with quick access to odds has made betting generally much more accessible. Satellite television channels and increased coverage of live football matches around the world has increased interest and opportunity.
SBC: What effect will the major mergers of recent times have this year, if any?
Kelly Eden: Jobs in the industry are likely to be affected, whether it be less or more. Share prices will go crazy as the big mergers gather pace.
Publicity on lesser sports and competitions sponsored by merging companies will be valuable to the sport, as well as more betting promotions, special offers and bonuses by merging firms. One key factor of hope is the outcome of increase of turnover at betting shops.
At the end of the day, this is a multi-billion pound industry is adjusting to the digital age.
SBC: What does 2016 have in-store for you?
Kelly Eden: The aim is continued success for TXODDS as the company grows and expands its coverage, product range and various different services.
A new odds comparison application has been launched as we speak and a new TXTRADER application is in it’s final stages. Both are vital tools as the domestic football leagues are nearing their end of season finale and the build up to the Euro 2016 starts.
SBC: Euro 2016 – who’s going to win, who’s going to shine and who’s going to slump?
Kelly Eden: As detailed in a previous interview with SBC, I tipped France at 6/1. Home advantage is always a plus, the squad is full of fantastic individuals, coached by Didier Deschamps and have a nice draw in a group with Albania, Romania and Switzerland.
Austria at 50/1 were very impressive in qualifying and don’t have a bad group with Portugal, Iceland and Hungary, also Poland at 80/1 could be dark horses and have lost only once in their sixteen games.
Germany don’t have an easy group that include Poland and Ukraine, while the same can be said for Spain who have been drawn in a group with Croatia, Turkey and Czech Rep. This tournament will also be big platform for star players to make a name for themselves, especially those players seeking a move during the summer. I can see big tournaments from Griezmann and Pogba of France, while Marco Reus of Germany at 33/1 for Top Goalscorer looks a bit over-priced.
The usual weight of home money will come for England, added to that with the money from their hearts for local rivals Rep of Ireland, Wales and Northern Ireland from their die-hard fans.
Come meet the TXOdds crew and hundreds more sports betting delegates at the Bridge in April. Get your tickets and see you down there!
