Scientific Games Corporation processed more than 177 million bets across all channels during the 2018 World Cup through SG Digital’s sportsbook OpenBet, the company has revealed.
The number of sports bets placed per minute through the OpenBet platform for a single sportsbook operator peaked at 18,000, boosted by an eventful tournament that included a record number of penalties awarded and many pre-tournament favorites eliminated early.
Keith O’Loughlin, SVP Sportsbook and Platforms at SG Digital, said, “The World Cup is an undeniably popular event with global impact, and we’re glad to see our partners perform so well. Factors such as a favorable time zone, own nation’s participation and some of the favorites being beaten out early on have led to a great success story with our European customers, with some seeing peaks over 200 percent as compared to a normal Premier League Saturday.
“In proud partnership with operators, SG Digital’s OpenBet ensured the scale and flex required to ensure a truly entertaining experience for the punters.
“The added entertainment value of sports betting can be very powerful when paired with such a worldwide phenomenon; this signals a bright future for us and our customers. We look forward to creating next level performances for similar events in years to come. Further, we hope this year’s World Cup demonstrates our preparedness for growth in the United States as jurisdictions in the market begin to regulate. It’s an exciting time to be in sports betting!”
