German octopus’ 100% record at World Cup 2010 hit bookmakers hard

Paul the Psychic Octopus is believed to have retired from football tipping for at least another two years and that is good news for bookmakers around the world.

William Hill reported that the German octopus’ tips cost them thousands of pounds over the course of the 2010 World Cup, with punters who backed each of Paul’s predictions netting an incredible £1623.34 each.

Hill’s spokesman Joe Crilly told Bettingpro:

“The predict-o-pus’s eight winning selections have helped superstitious punters to collect half a million from bookmakers coffers and anyone who bet £10 on each of the outcomes will have scooped £89.95 each, while those who “rolled” their money over onto the next outcome ended up with £1623.34.

“Picking all seven outcomes of Germany’s games, as well as the outcome of the World Cup final is quite some feat,” added Crilly.

“We are thankful that Paul has now retired, and will happily give him a few s-quid towards a retirement aquarium to keep him that way. He has emerged as the star of the World Cup, and retiring at his peak will ensure that he goes down in history as a leg-end.”

William Hill are now offering odds on what Paul will do next and make it 5/1 that he is given a tipster column in a British newspaper and 33/1 that he accepts a transfer to Spain, who he backed to beat both his homeland of Germany in the semi-finals and Holland in the World Cup final.

It is 500/1 that Paul is awarded Spain’s highest honour, the Order of the Golden Fleece, by King Juan Carlos.

William Hill Paul Specials:

5/1 To be given tipster column in British national newspaper.
33/1 To Accept a transfer to Spain
50/1 To Be Released Into The Wild
100/1 Squidnapped by distraught German fans .
250/1 Eaten by the German team on return from the World Cup
500/1 King Juan Carlos to confer Spain's highest honour, the Order of the Golden Fleece, on the Octopus