The FIFA World Cup final created an all-time record in New Zealand’s history of betting on sporting events.
More than 42,000 New Zealanders placed a bet on the outcome of the match, the most to bet on any single event in the TAB’s 26-year history of sports betting.
The TAB paid out more than $3 million in winning bets on the final, won by Argentina after a penalty shootout with France.
The teams were tied 3-3 after extra time, though many Argentina backers had already collected through the TAB’s promotional offer to pay out if a team took a two-goal lead at any stage.
“As part of our World Cup early payout promotion, we paid out more than $1m to Argentina fans when they took a 2-0 lead in the 36th minute,” TAB NZ Head of Betting Nick Conway says.
The TAB says it paid out more than $27 million in winning bets on the tournament.