Following this year’s Grand National, gambling giant Entain has reported that 12.75 million bets placed over the weekend, spread out through its sports betting brands Ladbrokes and Coral.
With the market and the world in general, in what could be the waning years of the COVID-19 pandemic, Entain believes that the staggering betting figure was achieved because of a massive influx of returning bettors after the Grand Nationals of previous years had been restricted to online-only affairs.
According to the operator, the delay has only served to increase demand via it’s no wagering sites, as seen by higher levels of internet activity and high-street sales this year than in any prior calendar year.
Saturday, the second day of the Grand National, was the busiest day for Entain. According to the operator, a total of 4.1 million bets were placed on that day, with total stakes increasing by 72 percent when compared to the previous year.
More than 20,000 bets per minute were put online with Entain in the lead-up to the event, the company reported. There were also 538,000 active online clients for Ladbrokes online and Coral online combined, according to data from the company.
“We were delighted to see the Grand National returning in all its glory with a huge crowd to cheer on the runners and riders,” said Dom Grounsell, Deputy Director of Digital at Entain.
“We pulled out all the stops to add to the moments of excitement for our customers across all our brands, apps and shops, and we were the only major operator to provide uninterrupted service from our platform and our customer support teams.
“The magical ending to the race reinforced that there is no event quite like the Grand National to generate passion and interest among our horse racing fans. Whether it’s in-person or online, Entain is committed to transforming horse racing to make the sport even more exciting for our customers.”
