HYDERABAD: Bettors who wagered on the BJP's West Bengal dominance and the stunning victory of actor Vijay and his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) in Tamil Nadu reaped a windfall, with volumes spiking 2-3x on anti-incumbent plays over safe incumbent bets.

Punters who backed BJP crossing 150 seats in West Bengal at 1.4-1.5x odds (₹140-`150 return on ₹100) were the happiest, with the party crossing 200+ mark. "I staked ₹100 on the saffron wave now it's ₹45-`50 profit and counting, Modi's magic!" said a textile trader from Ghansi Bazaar. Trinamul Congress backers, lured by 1.8-2x underdog odds, nursed heavy losses.

Vijay's TVK's leap to over 100 seats in a fractured mandate also helped punters book big gains as heavy volume focused on the fortunes of new party with many betting that it would stay in the 30- to 40-seat mark. Those who bet on the DMK retaining the edge saw their entire bet amount wiped out. However, those who played safe with AIADMK managed to retain 1.2-1.3x returns.

The UDF's 100+ seat haul validated 1.3-1.4x bets (₹130-140 return). "UDF's locked solid our ₹100 bets yield ₹30-`40 steady," said a Begum Bazaar dealer.

The BJP retaining Assam rewarded those who placed "safe" 1.1-1.2x bets (₹110-`120 return) with ₹10-20 gains. CM Himanta Biswa Sarma's landslide kept risks low and smiles wide. Similarly, the NDA's retaining Puduchery delivered modest low-risk payouts. "Like gold or cotton, most betters got gains today," said a bookie with a chuckle.