Spain rain on bookies parade

Spain's win in the final of the European Championship last weekend was the predicted bloodbath for bookmakers. The industry paid out an estimated £5m thanks to Luis Aragonés' team's 1-0 victory over Germany. Boylesports said Sunday was the "worst night" in its history, the firm having agreed a number of concessions to punters ahead of the final, including deciding to refund stakes in the three most popular markets if Fernando Torres scored the last goal of the game in Vienna. All in all, Spain's success cost Boylesports a seven-figure sum. The biggest single winner on Spain was a Hampshire-based William Hill client who won £275,000 thanks to a £50,000 bet at odds of 11-2. But there were some other sizeable wagers, including one by a Paddy Power client who staked £1,000 at 40-1 that Spain would win the tournament and that... [read full story]