World Cup Expected To Break Sports Betting Records

World Cup excitement growing in sports betting industry after England secure qualification.

Sports betting operators are predicting that next year's World Cup in South Africa will set a new benchmark for the industry.

With England's place in the month-long football extravaganza now sealed, UK-based bookmakers expect their World Cup turnover to break all previous records as the nation gets behind Fabio Capello's side.

Speaking to worldfootballinsider.com, Tony Calvin of Betfair said that his firm has already seen significant wagers in World Cup markets, with the start of the tournament still nine months away.

He told the website: "With England's involvement, global television coverage and so on, I think it's fair to say that next summer's World Cup is going to be the biggest betting event ever by whatever metric you use."

According to the publication, British bookmakers took bets totalling approximately £1 billion during the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

The draw for next summer's event is due to take place in Cape Town on December 4th, with the first match getting underway in Johannesburg on June 11th 2010.