Sack-race helps BetVictor to Oddschecker high

Sportsbook operator BetVictor has strengthened its third place position in the Oddschecker charts after a flurry of Premier League manager sackings helped the operator achieve its highest ever share of monthly bet-slip-clicks during December.

The UK sportsbook commanded an overall 11.95% market share during the month, beating its previous record of 11.35% achieved during October 2012, after it was boosted by the popularity of its ‘next manager’ football specials markets.

Interest in the bets were sparked after Fulham’s Martin Jol, Tottenham Hotspur’s Andre Villas-Boas, Cardiff City’s Malkay Mackay and West Bromwich Albion’s Steve Clarke were all relieved of their duties during the month.

Only Betfair on 27% could better BetVictor’s near 20% share of the football specials slip-clicks during December, which helped the latter widen the overall gap on fourth placed Paddy Power on 8.13% – the Irish operator’s lowest market share since November 2010.

“Our raison d’etre is to offer the best value and widest range of football markets at BetVictor and we are delighted that once again Oddschecker users have been voting with their fingers in record numbers during December,” a BetVictor spokesperson said.

The operator also added it hoped to win further market share during January as punters latch on to bets related to the football winter-transfer-window over the next few weeks.

Betfair maintained its long-term position on top of the pile with an overall 18.89% market share with bet365 also unchanged in second place on 16.4%.

According to Oddschecker, Sky Bet was the biggest improver during December as it increased its overall market share from 4.01% to 4.34%.

The price comparison site said Sky Bet’s performance had been underpinned by continued growth across its horse racing markets after the operator introduced the ‘best odds guaranteed’ offer to its horse racing product in November 2013.