Now and again sportsbooks come up with an offer that sounds too good to miss.
From Paddy Power introducing the Super Sub to bet365’s early payout for a two-goal lead, gambling providers are constantly looking for an innovative way to catch new customers.
Any offer is of course always calculated carefully and weighted heavily in favour of the bookie.
But the bank doesn’t always win.
Take Two For Bet365
A popular promotion offered by bet365 is ‘2 Goals Ahead Early Payout’.
As it sounds, the bookmaker will honour bets for a team to win if they take a two-goal lead in a game.
That came back to bite them in the proverbials over the weekend thanks to the Premier League being at its unpredictable best.
On Saturday evening, struggling West Ham led Chelsea 2-0 at Stamford Bridge, triggering early payouts to whoever had backed the Hammers.
By the end of the game, Chelsea had run out 3-2 winners against Nuno Espirito Santo’s bewildered team, meaning bet365 had to pay out again.
Fast forward to Sunday afternoon and Manchester City strolled to a 2-0 half-time lead at Tottenham.
Early payouts were honoured only for Spurs to claw the game back to 2-2 thanks to a Dominic Solanke double strike, meaning wagers on draws also had to be settled.
Ligue 1 also got in on the action.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang gave Marseille a 2-0 lead at Paris FC after 53 minutes.
It stayed that way until eight minutes from time.
An 82-minute goal for the home team from Jonathan Ikone reduced the deficit.
Four minutes into stoppage time an Ilan Kebbal penalty tied the game at 2-2.
Comeback Kings Leave Bet365 ‘Smarting’
Bet365 trader Steve Freeth admitted it had been a tough weekend for the bookie.
“On Sunday we were smarting after paying out on 8/15 Manchester City after they threw away a 2-0 lead at Spurs.
“Manchester United’s late show at Old Trafford also proved expensive.
“West Ham were another side we had paid out early on when Crysencio Summerville put the Hammers 2-0 up at Stamford Bridge.
“Unfortunately for us, Enzo Fernandez sealed the late comeback with a 92nd minute winner meaning we paid out on both West Ham and Chelsea.”
Carrick Celebrates A Treble
Michael Carrick’s winning start to his interim manager role at Manchester United has been another pain point.
“When Michael Carrick was appointed in mid-January, he was 40/1 to win his first three Premier League games,” said Freeth.
Two of those games were at home to Manchester City and away at Arsenal, a sizeable task in anybody’s sportsbook.
A 2-0 win over City was followed by a 3-2 victory at Arsenal with an 87-minute strike from Matheus Cunha.
Stoppage time dramatics at home to Fulham saw Carrick’s team complete the three-game winning streak for their new manager.
An equaliser one minute over the 90 from Fulham’s Kevin was wiped out by Benjamin Sesko’s winner on 90+4.
Super Sub Rashford Steps In
Marcus Rashford showed his value to Barcelona in LaLiga on Saturday evening.
He contributed a goal in the 3-1 win at Elche having come on as a second half substitute.
Rashford had replaced Raphinha who had fired blanks in the first 45 minutes.
But Freeth revealed that anybody backing the Brazilian to shine had reason to be grateful for bet365’s substitute promotion.
“In La Liga, we paid out on Raphinha scoring and having a shot on target, thanks to our Sub On Play On concession, even though he didn’t register any himself, with half-time substitute Marcus Rashford triggering the offer by scoring on 72 minutes.”
