London – May 2016 – Following this weekend’s tense FA Cup Final, figures from Worldpay, the global leader in payments, reveal that British bookmakers experienced a 40%* increase in online transactions, as football fans got caught up in the excitement surrounding the match.

The build-up around the final saw betting peak two hours before the match, at which point Worldpay was processing 30% more bets than the average weekend.

This year’s final also saw a 20% increase in in-play betting compared to earlier weeks, with Worldpay processing up to 50 transactions per second just minutes after kick-off, highlighting the number of fans topping up their online accounts ahead of the live action. Worldpay’s figures reveal a second spike at the beginning of extra time, which no doubt led to a flurry of punters seeking to capitalise on bet in-play offers.

Interestingly, average transaction values during the match were 5% below average, suggesting that the FA Cup attracts more casual punters looking for a flutter on the big day.