British Betting Fans 'Have Good Knowledge Of European Football'

It has been suggested that the high number of foreign players in the English Premier League gives betting enthusiasts a good insight into the European game.

Having players such as Spain's Fernando Torres in the Premier League allows English sports betting fans to gain a better insight into European football than they otherwise would have, according to Ladbrokes spokesperson Nick Weinberg.

The influx of overseas players into England's top division over the last few years means that punters have a better understanding of the European game, he states.

Furthermore, widespread television coverage of foreign football apparently gives those who may wish to bet on big European tournaments further information on the players and teams outside of the British Isles.

"With channels like Sky Sports you can watch German football, you can watch Spanish football or Italian football," said Mr Weinberg. "There's a greater comprehension of what other sides are like."

At the beginning of June, Ladbrokes claimed that if England had made it to Euro 2008 there would have been a big risk of bookies encountering a loss in turnover due to the high number of patriotic bets.