I must have been the only non–Brighton & Hove Albion fan genuinely distraught when Pascal Groß packed his bags for Borussia Dortmund last summer. The German midfielder joined The Seagulls in 2017, scored 30 Premier League goals during his time at the Amex, and quietly became a cult hero for stat-loving punters like me.
Despite working in the gambling industry for almost fifteen years, I rarely bet. Once a week — that’s it. At 2pm on a Premier League Saturday, I’ll scan the lineups and pick a three-player Anytime Goalscorer treble and patent. I avoid the obvious names — the Haalands, the Palmers, the Salahs. What I’m looking for are the Pascal Großes of the world: midfielders who quietly pop up with goals and generous odds.
I usually stake a tenner or twenty quid. If one of them scores, the return covers the bet. If two find the net, it’s dinner and drinks. And if all three come in? We’re going on holidays, thank you very much Philip Billing. Groß became my archetype, but before him there was Crystal Palace’s Luka Milivojević, who bagged twelve Premier League goals in 2018/19 from midfield. And if Tomas Souček ever leaves West Ham, I might have to hang up my betting boots altogether.
My Hail Mary approach to betting is one of the many reasons I can’t stand international breaks. Who honestly wants to bet on the Faroe Islands or watch England cruise to a 5–0 against some minnows, only to crumble at the actual tournament? There’s no thrill like cheering on a late Joško Gvardiol thunderbolt that just paid for a slap-up meal for two. International breaks take that buzz away — and not just for me.
If anyone hates international breaks more than bettors, it’s the bookmakers. When the Premier League, La Liga, and Serie A hit pause, betting turnover nosedives, leaving operators scrambling to keep engagement high. For context, global football betting turnover reached €800 billion in 2023, and during peak season, the Premier League alone accounts for up to 40% of a bookmaker’s football handle. When those leagues stop, the ripple effect is huge.
International fixtures — especially friendlies and one-sided qualifiers — see 25–30% lower betting turnover compared to a standard Premier League weekend. In-play stakes, one of the biggest revenue drivers, can drop by up to 20%, as unpredictable lineups and inconsistent motivation make outcomes harder to call. With football making up over 60% of sports betting volume in Europe and Asia, the lull is felt across every corner of the industry. In short, when England rests its stars, bookies feel it in the balance sheet.
But here’s the twist: international breaks don’t have to be dead weeks.
With the right strategy, operators can keep punters active through creative content, cross-sell campaigns, and data-driven retention marketing. That’s where agencies like ours come in.
At tentenseven, we help sportsbooks stay profitable year-round — even when the fixture list goes flat. Whether it’s building betting engagement campaigns, using segmentation to re-activate dormant users, or creating content that keeps your audience entertained until the league resumes, we’ve got you covered.
Want to keep your punters betting when the Premier League stops? Reach out to us at team@tentenseven.com and let’s craft something worth cheering for.
Oh, and this coming Saturday an Anytime Goalscorer treble on Gvardiol, Sunderland’s Granit Xhaka and Bruno Guimarães (with two in six this season already) comes in at 703/1. Just saying…
