Football punters kick rugby into touch

The Football World Cup is proving to be popular with punters, with betting turnover exceeding major rugby test series, according to the TAB.

Since the tournament started, around 50,000 New Zealanders have bet almost $20 million on the Football World Cup. Over the entire Investec Tri Nations last year, the TAB’s turnover was $4 million, while betting turnover for the Rebel Sport Super 14 this year was $13 million.

The biggest betting games so far have been the Brazil vs. Netherlands match and the Germany vs. Argentina match. TAB bookie Mark Stafford says the bets for these games came in thick and fast. “The turnover for each game was around $1 million, which is up there with a big All Blacks match,” says Stafford.

The tournament has also pulled in new punters with about 25,000 new betting accounts being opened. “On average around 1,000 new accounts have opened every day since the tournament started. With the All Whites performing beyond everyone’s expectations, it has instilled a lot of pride and patriotism with punters and has raised the profile of the sport,” says Stafford.

In an agreement with New Zealand Football, the TAB will contribute a percentage of World Cup betting turnover to the organisation at the end of the tournament. This currently is around $400,000, but is expected to increase once the tournament finishes.

Bets can be placed in-store or at any time via tab.co.nz, Phonebet and Touch Tone. Thanks to TAB you can bet on international events like the Football World Cup online from your desk or at your local TAB. There’s only one thing more exciting than watching sport - and that’s watching sport with a bet on.

Wager on the Football World Cup 2010: Be part of the thrill of these historic games.
www.tab.co.nz