Paddy Power are paying out on Stoke City’s relegation following their opening day defeat at the hands of Bolton today.  

Paddy Power are paying out on Stoke City’s relegation following their opening day defeat at the hands of Bolton today.  

The payout, expected to cost Paddy Power around £30,000, is the first time a bookie has paid out on a season-long bet on the first day of the season.

Stoke were always expected to struggle in the Premier League with their pre-season relegation odds as short as 4/9. Having lost to fellow relegation candidates Bolton this afternoon their odds tumbled further to 2/7. 

Every cloud though has a silver lining and to ease the pain of Potters fans Paddy Power are also offering Stoke season ticket holders a no-strings attached FREE £50 bet.

Paddy Power himself said: “Stoke fans knew they were in for a tough season just to survive and today’s defeat has confirmed it. If you’re losing to the likes of Bolton there really isn’t much hope. But perhaps our silver lining offer on a grey day for Potters fans will ease the pain of the long season ahead.”

Paddy Power are famous for their early payouts, paying out on Derby’s relegation last season on August 31st. Previous early payouts have included Chelsea as Premiership Champions in September of the 2005-06 season (the earliest ever payout on a team winning The Premiership) and Chelsea punters also collected early the season before when Paddy Power paid out in January of the 2004/05 season.

However the bookie hasn’t always got it right. Paddy Power famously declared Arsenal as Premiership champions in March of the 2002/03 season only to see Manchester United pip The Gunners to the title, forcing Paddy Power to pay out on the Red Devils as well!

Free Bet Claim

To claim their free bet, season ticket holders should send a photocopy of their season ticket clearly showing their name and address before Sunday August 31st to:

Paddy’s Silver Lining Offer
Paddy Power Bookmakers
5th Floor
Crowne House
56/58 Southwark Street
London
SE1 1UN

One free bet per person. Over 18s only!