Every vote will count for election gambler

high stakes: Bookies benefiting as punters look to profit from poll

As politicians frantically canvassed for last-minute votes, punters showed an equal enthusiasm for trying to gain some cash.

Bookmakers continued to do a roaring trade in one of the most closely fought elections in memory.

Amid predictions in the political polls that the SNP would sweep the boards in Scotland, the odds on them doing so in Courier Country remained short.

Angus and Dundee East appeared to be sure things for the Nationalists, with William Hill placing them at 1/100.

Fife offered less certainty, with Gordon Brown’s former constituency of Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath and nearby Glenrothes both looking too close to call.

The amount expected to be placed on this election soared to £100 million yesterday — three times more than in 2010.

As the betting frenzy continued, a man who claimed he had not placed in a bet in a decade staked more than £20,000 on the outcome of the general election.

The man walked into a branch of William Hill close to the House of Commons and staked a total of £20,500 on different aspects of today’s vote.

“The gentleman, described as ‘late middle-aged’ by staff, was dressed in a suit jacket, casual trousers and T-shirt,” said William Hill spokesman Graham Sharpe.

“He told staff it was the first time he’d been in a betting shop for a decade, and that last time he’d bet ‘a tenner’ on a football bet, but that he now fancied a bet on the general election.” The man then bet £11,500 on the Conservatives gaining 285 or more seats at odds of 4/7, which would give him a return of £18,000 if it comes to pass.

He also bet £4,000 on a voter turnout of 70-75% at odds of 9/4, which will return £13,000, and £2,000 on the Conservatives winning between 301 and 325 seats at odd of 11/4, a potential return of £7,500.

He also placed £2,000 on the Lib Dems to get between 21 and 30 seats at 4/6, a return of £3,332 and, at 10/1 he put £1,000 on voter turnout being greater than 75%, which would give a return of £11,000.

“This may not have been the biggest bet on the general election – that honour belongs to one of our clients with £205,500, to get back £251,944, on a hung parliament – but it is a substantial wager.”

Over the past two elections, bookies called results more accurately than pollsters.

Sir, - The people in Scotland have a heavy responsibility today.

Voting for the SNP will mean a return to the bitterness and divisions of the referendum.

It also means once again putting jobs, pensions, savings and national security at risk. Robert Finlay. 6 Greenmount Drive, Burntisland.