A Spanish Point punter has won $700,000 on the English football pools from a bet of less than two dollars.

The win is thought to be the biggest ever payout from the soccer pools to a resident of Bermuda.

It is certainly the largest win for a Bermudian involving the Littlewoods Pools Company in Liverpool, England.

The man, who requested anonymity, bet $1.85 through Fortune Corner on Church Street in Hamilton.

Mr. Barry Kessell, owner-manager of Fortune Corner, said the man correctly picked eight draws in English soccer matches on New Year's Day.

The 452,000 he collected was the largest-ever Littlewoods win in Bermuda, Mr.

Kessell told The Royal Gazette .

Littlewoods respects confidentiality when requested and even Mr. Kessell is not sure of the man's identity.

"I'm so pleased that I can't get over it,'' Mr. Kessell said. "I don't have that many clients from Spanish Point. I'm sure when he comes in that I'll know who he is.

"I'm pretty certain people will know who it is when he starts to drive around in a BMW instead of his motorcycle.'' While "by far the largest,'' the man is the third big winner on the Island in the last 12 months, he said.

One local player won 100,000 ($150,000) and another 80,000 ($120,000). Mr. Kessell said he is appealing a recent Supreme Court decision that requires payment of foreign currency tax on the football wagers.