The Rugby World Cup is set to be a betting bonanza for bookmakers in Ireland with Irish punters betting €5 million over the course of the tournament. Betting industry sources say that, while still not in the same league as the English Premiership football or horse-racing, rugby is fast gaining interest from the betting public.
With the success of the Irish rugby team and the increased media coverage the sport now gets, bookies have noticed a marked increase in the size and number of bets being placed on rugby.
As early as 2001, bets were being laid for outright winners of the tournament and while early money began with New Zealand, the last 18 months have seen a steady increase to England, with them coming in from 5 to 1 to their current standing of 11 to 8 (odds: Paddy Power).
The sport is now also attracting interest from the professional punters, who are not necessarily rugby fans but have been taking advantage of the many handicaps being offered on the early group games.
The only downside for bookies and punters alike is that not all the games are widely available for viewing, with only ITV and ITV2 showing all the matches, and while RTÉ's coverage is extensive it is just not in the same league as Sky - all of which can strongly influence betting habits.
The betting bonanza inspired by this World Cup - in the UK alone, £35 million will have been invested, with most money expecting an English victory - will be the highest for any rugby tournament so far but it still pales in comparison with the likes of a soccer World Cup, which would generate around €10 million in betting revenue in Ireland.
