Bolt Olympics Win Cost Online Bookies

Online sportsbooks were forced to pay out some pretty big sums to punters after Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt defended his 100 meter sprint crown in record time at the 2012 London Olympics Sunday.

William Hill Online will be paying out a five figure sum to its customers after Bolt completed his victory in Olympic record 9.63 time Sunday. Injuries and loss of form saw Bolt ease from 1/4 odds just one year ago to 4/6 on the eve of the race, but really the result was never in doubt as he cruised home.

Bolt has been the only big loser to Hill in London so far, as the punters only really wanted to back him, the bookmaker's spokesman said. He pointed out that the company will now nervously be watching the 200m in the hope that the lightning bolt doesn't strike a second time and cost them a six-figure sum.

Hill have now made Bolt 5/4 to win the 100m final at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The London 2012 Track & Field action will continue through to the Olympics closing ceremony on the weekend, with headline events such as the men's and women's 400m sprint, 4x100 meter relays, 400 meter hurdles race, men's marathon and high jump still to come.

Hill, bet365, 888sport and all the other leading online sportsbook offer you all the action. Hill's scroll down menu allows you to view what events remain, just by selecting gender, sport and then the exact discipline on which you would like to place a wager.

888sport is promising its customers a share in a £/€/$7500 prize pool, just by participating in its Bet & Break promo. Bet on any sport or multi from your online betting or mobile betting account, and you will automatically be entered into the Winning Bets leaderboard competitions. Players with the highest number of winning bets win the daily cash.

Bet365 is allowing punters to place their wager on who will finish top of the gold medal tally. The United States is 8/15 to top the table, China is 11/8, while other countries such as Great Britain can be given odds on request from customers.