Global online gambling firm Betway is predicting that as much as £500m is set to wagered across Britain in a betting bonanza of a week.
Two England games in the space of six days at football’s biggest showpiece, the World Cup currently ongoing in Russia, bookends five days of betting at Royal Ascot, which could see UK punters wagering half a billion pounds.
Betway’s Alan Alger said: “Every four years, the collision between Royal Ascot and the World Cup results in one of the biggest betting weeks of the year but this year is extra special.
“With England games both kicking off and closing a week that has Royal Ascot sandwiched in between, we could be set to see around half a billion pounds bet in just seven days.
Betway details that the whole betting industry could be in “for an ultra-busy” week, which began with the Three Lions’ 2-1 victory in their opening World Cup game against Tunisia last night.
This is the opening to a hectic week which sees flat racing’s biggest betting event, Royal Ascot, beginning today (Tuesday June 19) and running through to Saturday June 23.
Finishing the week in England’s second World Cup group game against Panama, defeated 3-0 by Belgium in their opener, on Sunday June 24 in the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium.
Betways estimates that approximately £30-£40 million will be wagered across each day at Royal Ascot, nudging total bets towards the £200 million region, whilst England’s participation on both Monday and Sunday could take the total in the betting spree towards the £500 million mark.