Bookie’s offer to bet cash on the ash

VOLCANO betting could soon erupt as frustrated travellers are given the opportunity to bet on their misfortune and scoop up to €2,000 in the process.

Paddy Power is offering odds on the likelihood of airports in Ireland and Britain closing in June, July and August due to the volcanic eruptions.

To win, the airport in question must be fully shut for at least one hour due only to the volcanic ash.

Punters can now bet on Dublin, Cork or Shannon airport closing on a specific day during the summer.

The bookmaker is calling this a “holiday protection product”, designed to safeguard holidaymakers from unscheduled airport closure due to volcanic ash.

Paddy Power said depending on the popularity of the service, it will look at expanding betting to other airports in Europe and also extending the timeframe.

The maximum pay-out per bet is €2,000.

It is offering odds of 10/1 on Dublin Airport being closed on June 1 while you’ll get odds of 14/1 for Shannon Airport to be closed on August 1.

Interest among punters seems very positive, according to Paddy Power spokes- man Ken Robertson. “This is the first time we have dipped our toe into insurance type betting and we’re not really sure what to expect,” he said.

But not all potential punters seem convinced. One Paddy Power Facebook fan said: “Restrictions have been relaxed massively. The chances of any airport grounding and denying access to all flights in the future is slim to none.”