Thanks to the postponement of last year’s Grand National, which got replaced by a virtual race, the excitement surrounding the upcoming one seems to be at an all-time high. Thus, these unpredictable circumstances have made most UK punters turn to online platforms.
The Grand National is a British tradition and one of the most popular races in the world, with polls suggesting that nearly half of the adult UK population wagers on this event. Given that betting shops will begin reopening two days following the race, bettors have no choice but to take action offered in the digital sphere.
Some other key numbers highlighted in this infographic from free bet offers show just how popular the race is. Not just in the UK, but across the globe. The big race is show in over 140 countries and has an expected audience of over 600 million viewers. The race attracts views of all ages and sexes which is part of the appeal of the race.
There are 16 fences throughout the race, with 14 of these being jumped twice. Its one of the most difficult races going and it shows that only 15% of the time, the race has been won by the favourite.
Online Gambling Sites Are in Full Swing
The European Business Review claims that over 45% of UK residents gamble, with the average bettor wagering over £133 per year. Thus, 25 million adult gamblers fuel the country’s betting industry, which generates a gross gambling yield of £14.26 billion. Its online sector has been one of the fastest-growing due to early adoption and defined regulation set by the UKGC.
Pi Datametrics, a marketing technology company, released data in early 2021, which showed that the term – “virtual grand national” was the most-searched gambling-related one in the UK in 2020. “Play poker online with friends” came in second. Analytics Insight estimated that online poker play jumped 38% in 2020, while slot interest increased by 25%. Sports betting was down across the board. However, that was due to the lack of events running. Many believe that with the pandemic going on, digital sportsbooks will rake in unprecedented revenues in 2021.
Easy Bookmaker Odds Comparisons & Free Bets
One of the main advantages of online wagering is how easy you can locate the best available odds. You do not even have to open multiple sites to check them with each operator. There are odds comparison/review platforms that do all the leg work for you. These will line up all the top brand operators and list their game/race coefficients.
For instance, all premium bookmakers have Cloth Cap as the Grand National favourite. Bet365, Unibet, Betway, and Betfred have it at 4-1 to win, while everyone else has this horse listed as the 7-2 favourite. What is even better is that some review sites inform you of places where you can claim free bet promos. Such an option is unavailable at land-based betting locales.
Mobile Sportsbooks Offer Unmatched Convenience
Naturally, promotions aside, the most enticing aspect of wagering over the internet is the level of convenience provided. Digital sportsbooks and their associated apps let you place bets whenever from wherever. Top-end platforms also allow in-play bets, the ability to put down money on an event as it transpires. Once most punters get used to these perks, it is hard to see them walking back to betting shops.
