Although public opinion polls suggest that the Scottish Independence Referendum outcome is too close to call, betting operator Betfair has announced that it will payout its Scottish Independence Market on customers who voted for a Scottish No.
Throughout the independence campaign, Betfair’s political markets have not reflected public polling on the matter. Last week the operator published at set of charts which reported that the NO campaign had an 80% chance of winning.
The Betfair political trading desk have reported that they have so far matched US $15 million (£9.2 million) on the betting market, which is comparable to a high profile football match. The Scottish Independence Market has become Betfair biggest political market ever.
Betfair stated that the payout would only be applicable to wagers made through its sportsbook product and not through its Betting Exchange product.
Speaking to UK Newspaper the Daily Telegraph Naomi Totten BetFair PR Manager commented
“Political bettors have often favoured the exchange as their choice of betting platform and it has historically provided an accurate prediction of political outcomes,Paying out early on our Sportsbook is testament to the esteem in which we hold the illustrious track record of our Exchange”.