Footie fans set to bet big as the Reds take on Real

Monday 21^st May 2018 – LONDON — Online bookies are on track for a bumper week’s trading, as excitement builds in the run-up to this year’s Champion’s League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid, according to Worldpay.

An analysis of gambling data from last year’s showdown between Real Madrid and Juventus revealed an 18%¹ spike in online gambling activity compared to an average weekend, as football fans across Europe had a flutter on the biggest game in club football.

Spanish punters were among the biggest bettors, depositing 44% more than an average weekend; and with a payout ratio higher than any other European country, Madrid fans were set up to celebrate their team’s victory in style.

While last years’ final sparked a 17% surge in betting activity among UK cardholders, Worldpay are predicting an even greater uplift for bookmakers this year, as the prospect of a home team in the final attracts even more interest from both dedicated Liverpool supporters and neutral fans alike.

Commenting on the data, James McGurn, VP Growth – Digital Content & Gaming at Worldpay, Inc. said: “Saturday’s match kicks off what is set to be a busy summer of sport for Britain’s bookies, with the FIFA World Cup, Royal Ascot and Ryder Cup capturing the interest of fans across Europe. In the fast-paced sports betting industry, speed is crucial, with online traffic dramatically spiking during major fixtures and finals.

“This is particularly true for football, which is perfectly suited to in-play betting. Whether placing a wager on the final score, or the next goal, punters want their online gambling experience to be seamless and slick. In order to cope with high-volume events such as the world cup, operators need to be able to process hundreds of payments per second, and a slick and seamless mobile experience for punters who want to get their eyes back on the game.”

About the data:
Figures quoted are according to global eCommerce transaction data for Worldpay’s regulated gaming customers in the UK during June 2017, which included more than 150 of the biggest names in the regulated gaming industry.

About Worldpay
Worldpay, Inc. (NYSE: WP; LSE: WPY) is a leading payments technology company with unique capability to power global integrated omni-commerce. With industry-leading scale and an unmatched integrated technology platform, Worldpay offers clients a comprehensive suite of products and services globally, delivered through a single provider.
Worldpay processes over 40 billion transactions annually through more than 300 payment types across 146 countries and 126 currencies. The company’s growth strategy includes expanding into high-growth markets, verticals and customer segments, including global eCommerce, Integrated Payments and B2B.
Worldpay, Inc. was formed in 2018 through the combination of the No. 1 merchant acquirers in the U.S. and the U.K. Worldpay, Inc. trades on the New York Stock Exchange as “WP” and the London Stock Exchange as “WPY.”
Visit us at www.worldpay.com/global

For more information, please contact:
Emily Lahey : Emily.lahey@worldpay.com – +(44) 7584 339633
Louise Mead : worldpayecommteam@golin.com – +44 (0) 203 664 5663

¹Analysis of global eCommerce transaction data for Worldpay’s regulated gambling customers 3rd-6th June 2017, compared to 10th–14th June 2017.