Bookmakers news

Cantillion: Paddy Power backers’ punt pays off



All punters would welcome a windfall within two weeks of the Cheltenham Festival in March and those who have backed bookmaker Paddy Power look set to get just that.

The listed bookmaker plans to pay €141 million in dividends to shareholders on March 2nd, made up of a special dividend due after its merger with Betfair, a final 2015 dividend, and a payment for the first month of this year, its last before joining forces with its rival.

Paddy Power’s list of retail shareholders includes a few people who, because they like a bet, know that the bookie always wins, and invested accordingly. You can take short odds about some of them using their dividends to boost their betting banks for the Cotswolds showdown. After all, their shares have practically doubled in value since this time last year, so they’re already ahead.

The merger with Betfair is a big part of that share price increase. That deal now looks set to go through next week, but it does not appear that punters will notice any practical impact at Cheltenham 2016. Both companies will be chasing a big slice of its estimated €650 million betting turnover and see it as a good opportunity to recruit customers, so each will have already mapped out a plan of campaign for the four days.

In some ways, it is hard to get a handle on just what Paddy Power Betfair will mean for customers. The enlarged group plans to maintain the two brands, so nothing outwardly will change. So far, the companies have talked a lot about the benefits to clients of bringing two of the industry’s stronger technology teams together.

They say it will mean more innovation, more betting products, more tailored and personalised wagers, not necessarily more value but not less of it either. The reality is that, until now, the focus has been on what the merger will mean for shareholders, so punters will have to wait a little longer before finding out what it means for them. Presumably, they will have a clearer picture by Cheltenham 2017.


Credit to www-irishtimes-com/business/reta --- -1-2512907

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NFL Picks Against The Spread: What Bookmakers Think About Cowboys, Giants, Redskins, and Eagles in Week 10



When the Vegas oddsmakers like sportsbooks and casinos set the point spread, or the line, for an NFL game, their objective is to make sure the line attracts an equal amount of wagers on both sides of the bet, as this limits the exposure of the oddsmaker.

The opening line is an oddsmakers' best guess as to which point spread will get equal action from bettors on both sides. Because most NFL games are mismatches, oddsmakers use a point spread to balance out the betting action on the two sides. Otherwise, everybody would just bet on the favorites to win, and the bookmakers would be left to cover the difference.

To arrive at a point spread, the Vegas oddsmakers draw on their knowledge of betting behavior and sophisticated statistical models, but it's important to understand that the point spread is not a predicted margin of victory, though the numbers certainly look like it and often come very close to the actual result of a game.

But Vegas isn't the only source of point spreads for a game. Today we'll look at four different stat-based points spreads to see how they differ from the Vegas line in their outlook for the four NFC East games this weekend, and offer up a pick against the spread for all NFC East games.

Dallas Cowboys at Pittsburgh Steelers (-2.5, 50)
The Cowboys opened as -3 underdogs in Pittsburgh, though the line has since moved a little in the Cowboys' favor. The following table shows how that compares to lines generated by three different stat-based models:

Cowboys @ Steelers Point Spreads, Week 10
Vegas Line
FiveThirtyEight Massey-Peabody Pro Football Reference
Dallas +2.5 +0.5 +0.4
-3.2
FiveThirtyEight base their number on an ELO rating system that estimates each team’s skill level using only the final scores and locations of each game.

Massey-Peabody generate their predictions by working up from play-by-play data to calculate a performance figure for rushing, passing, scoring, and play success for each team

PFR's Simple Rating System is calculated from each team's average point margin, adjusted up or down depending on the strength of their opponents.

For the Cowboys, the stat-based models shown here paint an uneven picture, though all favor the Cowboys more strongly than the Vegas line currently does. Which is why I've enlisted professional help from Scott Cooley at Bookmaker-eu to understand why the spread for the game is the way it is and where it could be heading:

Two of the most public teams we have so this marquee matchup will command a massive handle. Right now, we’ve got around 75 percent of the wagers on Dallas. The squares have been backing the ‘Boys all year, and they’ve been winning so they aren’t about to hop off the wagon. This spread has dropped a half point and it could end up closer to -1 by kickoff, depending on when/if the sharps get involved.
The general weakness of all the stat-based models in this case is they are using numbers from the entire season, and in the case of 538-com, data from beyond just this season. Also, none of them take into account injuries (Ben Roethlisberger's knee), weather conditions (clear skies, temperatures in the low 50s), the importance of the game (the Steelers probably need to win their division to make the playoffs, so every win counts), or anything else besides the stats from previous games.

The Steelers started the season with the fifth-best odds of winning the Super Bowl, but have lost their last three games and don't look anything like the preseason favorite they were just two months ago. Ben Roethlisberger's return last week had almost no effect on the Steelers' stuttering offense. The Steelers averaged 15 points on offense over their three-game skid and allowed 26, while the Cowboys have averaged 33.1 points on offense and have only allowed 16.2 on defense. The Cowboys may not be able to keep up those kind of numbers in every game, but it'll be enough for the Steelers. I'm picking the Cowboys to cover.

Prediction ATS: Dallas

Cincinnati Bengals at New York Giants (-2.5, 47)
The Giants line has bounced around all week, and oddsmakers are currently offering them anywhere between -1 and -2.5. But for this game, the bookmakers and the stat models agree, the Giants are the favorites in this one.

Bengals @ Giants Point Spreads, Week 10

Vegas Line
FiveThirtyEight Massey-Peabody Pro Football Reference
Giants -2.5 -2.0 -2.4 -6.2
Scott explains that the Bengals are getting a lot of the early betting action, though that could change.

This is our biggest move thus far, from -3 to -1, and it’s safe to say we opened the Giants a touch too high and the smart players pounced. This game really could go either way, but the Bengals are the better team overall. Currently, more than 70 percent of the money taken is on Cincinnati. I don’t think this drops lower because as Monday approaches we’ll see a lot of public money on New York.
The Giants are 3-1 against the spread in their last four games, while the Bengals are 1-3 against the spread in their last four. From a scoring point of view, the teams are nearly identical on offense (CIN: 20.9 ppg, NYG: 20.1 ppg), and the Giants are a little more effective on defense (CIN: 20.5 ppg, NYG: 23.6 ppg).

When in doubt, go with the home team or the team with the better record. The Giants are both, and there's also this from Bill Barnwell of ESPN:

The Giants have lost eight of their 12 fumbles on offense, but even more distressingly, they've forced nine fumbles on defense and recovered just one of them for an 11 percent rate. Those rates can't continue.
Prediction ATS: Ne

BY WHAT CRITERIA YOU NEED TO CHOOSE A BOOKMAKER?



Choosing a bookmaker – a very important step for the beginner- gambler. Because the places itself in which you will make bets, depends on how successful your predictions will be. Therefore, try to figure out what criteria should be guided primarily by choosing the bookmaker for sports betting.

Reliability. Before you start betting on sports, you need to view the ranking of best bookmakers and choose the office, which is in your opinion the most reliable and high quality. To determine the degree of reliability can be the presence of licenses to conduct such business. Also on the bookmaker site should always be several different contact information (email, phone, Skype and so on). You can also ask technical support. In a good online office, you do not have to wait for a response more than a couple hours.

The values ​​of the coefficients. Be sure to review the rules of sports betting. Ratio should not change in the starting bookmaker bid. Otherwise, along with the movement across the line bookmaker will change the size of your potential winnings. You should also pay attention to the presence in the line of an increasing number of events. The higher the scattering of the competition, presented at the bookmaker, the easier it to bet on sports.

Money transactions. It is important to be able to use to transfer funds to the account of the bookie office and on the contrary a greater number of payment systems. Also note that not always bookmakers pay out funds to the same payment system, in which they take it.

Minimum deposit and withdrawal amount. If the maximum withdrawal per day should have less than 500 USD or minimum deposit higher than 50 USD – you should refuse to work with such bookie office.

Thus, the choice of bookmaker for regular sports betting – complicated. But if you use all of our criteria and selection, you will find the best institution for your gambling needs.

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Belfast woman sues bookmakers over failure to pay out almost £1 million in winnings



A BELFAST woman is suing a leading bookmakers for refusing to pay out £1 million in winnings on a bet on horses.

Megan McCann is taking the action against Hillside (UK Sports) LP, the company which operates bet365, at Belfast High Court in a dispute over a bet placed last summer.

Ms McCann placed a series of 960 'Lucky 15' bets, at £13 each way, on 12 horses competing in four races at Bath, Kempton and Naas on June 22 last year.

Along with Ms McCann's initial stake of £24,960 - which has yet to be returned to her - the Belfast woman has not been paid her £985,000 winning prize.

In a case which could have widespread consequences, The Daily Telegraph has reported that the firm has claimed Miss McCann is in "flagrant breach" of its terms and conditions because it believes the original betting stake was supplied by a "third party".

In legal letters to bet365 and its parent company, Ms McCann's solicitors have written: "Our client's case is very straightforward. She placed a bet with your client. She won. She is entitled to her winnings."

Miss McCann's legal team have argued in the correspondence that the 'third party rules' at the centre of the dispute mean that "the husband who puts a bet on the winner of X-factor for his wife, or on the winner of the Grand National, would have those winnings 'robbed' of him."

In one response, bet365's lawyers stated: "It is a case in which your client has been operating the account... using the funds of and for the benefit of third parties, in flagrant breach of our client's terms.

"Our client has reasonable grounds to suspect your client to be guilty of criminal offences including fraud by false representation; cheating or attempted cheating."

irishnews-com/news/2017/---ion-in-winnings-1080865/

What Happens Next? Betting reflection and ante-post predictions



Horse Racing


Enable was good, very good, and you can see why the bookmakers are running for cover. A general 2/1 chance for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on October 1, John Gosden’s filly is an understandable market leader considering her sizzling summer.

A winner of the Cheshire Oaks, Investec Oaks and Irish Oaks, she took on the colts and geldings for the first time in the King George on Saturday and gave them a proper beating. With the recent excellent record of three-year-old fillies in the Arc it’s hard to see past her at present.

But, 2/1? It’s not an investment that has you running for the bookmakers two months in advance of the contest. Plenty of rivals have the chance to enhance their claims yet, while a wide draw wouldn’t be ideal at Chantilly.

King George runner-up Ulysses might represent better ante-post value in the betting for the Juddmonte International at York on Wednesday August 23. That’s only three weeks away and the way Ulysses travels makes me think 10 furlongs around York will be ideal for him.

It’d be a fascinating rematch following on from his Coral-Eclipse dust up with Barney Roy, where there was a cigarette paper between the duo as Ulysses came out on top by the narrowest of margins at Sandown.

Available at 4/1 in places, he’s performing at a consistently high level now, and, granted better ground on the Knavesmire, it wouldn’t be a surprise were he able to add another Group One to his collection in three weeks’ time. (Ben Linfoot)

Golf


Play-off wins for Jordan Smith and Jhonattan Vegas took the plaudits from the weekend's events in Germany and Canada but the big breaking news revolves around Rory McIlroy - again.

Club changes, injuries, marriage and some performances somewhat below expectations have meant the Ulsterman has never been far away from the sport's headlines in 2017 but he has topped the lot by giving the chop to long-time caddy JP Fitzgerald.

The pair have been together since Rory turned pro in 2008 but will go their separate ways as McIlroy tries to salvage the second half of the season with plenty of big events still to come.

First up is the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational immediately followed by the USPGA Championship and McIlroy has winning form at both Firestone and Quail Hollow.

He plans to have his new man in place for Akron this week and a fresh pair of eyes might just be the final piece of the puzzle for a player who has regularly admitted in recent weeks he is extremely close to his best game.

He did the Bridgestone-USPGA double three years ago and the merest hint of contending in the former would see an already short price shorten further for the season's final major at a venue he absolutely adores. (David John)

sportinglife-com/racing/---/what-happens-next/92129

Online improvement drives William Hill revenue higher



(Reuters) - An improved performance from its online business helped British bookmaker William Hill Plc (WMH.L) to post a rise in first-half revenue, sending its shares up sharply.

William Hill, which in March named a new chief executive and a finance boss, said revenue rose 3 percent to 837 million pounds ($1.1 billion) in the first half of the year and also nudged up its interim dividend by 4 percent.

For William Hill, a stronger online business marks a clear recovery from a year ago when it fired its previous chief executive for not making enough progress in the sector.

Attracting gamblers who want to bet on live sports events via tablet or smartphone is now a vital part of the business for William Hill and rival Ladbrokes Coral Group (LCL.L) which retain thousands of betting shops on British high streets.

Shares in William Hill rose as much as 10 percent in morning trade. Shares had been down nearly 13 percent down so far this year.

"We are confident about delivering a good outturn in 2017 and beyond." William Hill said on Wednesday.

Revenue from online channels -- a key area for the company -- was up 5 percent on strong growth in the UK.

However, first-half pretax profit fell 11 percent as the bookmaker had to pay out on wins for well-backed soccer teams.

Barclays analysts, in a client note, said the growth in online was driven by improvements in product and customer experience.

Among innovations, the company, which founded as a postal and telephone betting service in 1934, allows gamblers to ask the company for odds on Twitter.

Winning Streak

Revenue growth held up despite no major soccer tournament this year whereas financial results in the same period last year were boosted by the European championship, held every four years.

Wins for some of the biggest English soccer clubs took their toll on profitability.

"Chelsea won six out of six of their last league matches, Spurs and Arsenal won five out six," Chief Executive Philip Bowcock told Reuters adding that major results towards the end of the reporting period were also customer-friendly.

William Hill has missed out on industry-wide consolidation which has seen Paddy Power combining with Betfair and Ladbrokes joining forces with Gala Coral.

"M&A by its nature is very opportunistic and we will listen and talk to anybody at the appropriate time but now we are focused on delivering on our UK performance," Bowcock said.

uk-reuters-com/article/u---s-idUKKBN1AI0JC?rpc=401&

Man City tops Premier League table based on bookmakers' odds

Manchester United should be looking for a flying start to the season while Everton are likely to find the early going tough.

Press Association Sport has ranked every team in the Premier League based on leading bookmakers' odds to derive a predicted league table topped by Manchester City.

City are followed by Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham - and Everton face all four in their first five matches of the season, adding extra importance to their opening clash with West Brom.

By contrast, Everton are the highest-rated team United will play until October, although they then meet Liverpool, Spurs and Chelsea virtually back to back.

Mauricio Pellegrino should be able to ease himself into life as Southampton boss, with Swansea, Huddersfield, Watford and Crystal Palace - all predicted to finish in the bottom six - among their first five opponents.



Leicester have a tough start, with Arsenal, United, Chelsea and Liverpool among their first six opponents, while promoted Brighton and Huddersfield have more reason to fear the end of the season.

Both teams, who are playing in the Premier League for the first time, meet three of the top six in their final four games.

Brighton face Tottenham, United and Liverpool while Huddersfield play Chelsea, City and Arsenal.

Arsenal have often finished Premier League seasons strongly and will have high hopes of doing so again with all but one of their matches against other top six sides coming before March.

Liverpool are in a similar situation, with seven of their last 10 games coming against teams predicted to be in the bottom half of the table.

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Gambling addict warns against fixed-odds betting terminals

A recovering gambling addict has warned others about the dangers of using fixed-odds betting terminals in bookmakers.

The man, who asked to remain anonymous, said he had lost as much as £15,000 in a day at betting shops in Reading town centre.

The government is conducting a review into the machines, which account for more than 50% of bookmakers' profits.

The Association of British Bookmakers said a report suggesting the maximum bet should be reduced from £100 to £2 was "flawed".

bbc-com/news/av/uk-engla---d-odds-betting-terminals

How gambling has replaced beer on Premier League shirts this season

This is the first Premier League season without a beer brand sponsoring a shirt, as gambling firms, especially foreign ones, have taken their place

The season began with Emirates Airlines against Thai duty free giant King Power. Saturday’s games included the clash of the Malta-based bookmakers, ManBetX against Ope Sports, and another all-gambling clash when Kenya’s SportPesa take on England’s very own Bet365.

Premier League shirt sponsorship has changed beyond recognition since the days when Queens Park Rangers promoted Classic FM and Blackburn Rovers McEwan’s Lager. Just as the league itself has modernised, globalised, a magnet to foreign interest and foreign money, the shirt sponsorship market has followed.

This season will see just four UK-based brands on Premier League shirts, the lowest number in history. And, not unconnected to that, it will see nine bookmakers as shirt sponsors, one down from last season’s record of 10.

Looking at the changes in shirt sponsorship over time shows how clearly the market has changed. When the Premier League started, in 1992-93, the biggest sectors for shirt sponsorship were consumer electronics, with six deals, and beer, with four, according for research for The Independent by Ken Berard. Electronics and beer remained a steady presence through the 1990s before dwindling in the 2000s. Last season there was just one beer sponsor, Chang Beer on Everton’s shirts. They have now been replaced too, and this year, for the first time in Premier League history, there will be none.

The story of the second half of the Premier League era has been the story of gambling replacing alcohol as the sector that dominates its shirts. When BetFair first appeared on Fulham’s shirts in 2002-03 it felt quirky but now it is utterly commonplace.

Alcohol was synonymous with the first decade of the Premier League, which had Carling as its title sponsor from 1993 to 2001. But while beer partnerships are still part of the fabric of English football, those brands do not take quite the same direct approach as they used to. “The market reflects a changing dynamic among alcohol brands,” explained Tim Crow, CEO of leading sports marketing firm Synergy, “as beer brands have moved away from shirt sponsorship.”

The Portman Group is made of Britain’s leading alcohol producers and three years ago they brought out a new sponsorship code advising brands to be responsible in their sponsorship of sports, in part because they do not want to be seen to be marketing to children. Of course all Premier League teams have their own alcohol partners, but those brands have now stepped back from shirt sponsorship itself.

Into that space, gambling firms have moved. It is easy enough to see why it is an attractive move for them. With global viewing figures higher than ever, a shirt sponsorship is a fairly cheap way to reach millions of people all over the world. “The Premier League is a global advertising platform because of its reach,” Crow explains. “As a global advertising campaign for a brand, shirt sponsorship can be a cost-effective media buy.”

The big six clubs are so famous now that their shirt sponsorship deals are appropriately expensive. Chevrolet pay an estimated £53million to sponsor Manchester United’s shirts, Yokohama Tyres pay £40m each year to Chelsea. But while the top clubs charge a premium, for the smaller 14 it is a buyers’ market. Their shirts will cost in the mid-single figures of millions for each year. Not a big price to pay to be seen all over the world.

Online gambling is becoming bigger and bigger business, as anyone who watches football on television knows. In 2014 football revenues exceeded those for horse racing for online bookmakers in the UK and the gap has continued to grow since.

While only Bet365, who sponsor Stoke City and BetWay, who sponsor West Ham United, target the UK betting market, there has been a recent rise in investment from foreign bookmakers. They are far less interested in the UK markets, and more in the global audience the Premier League provides. That is why Sport Pesa, ManBetX, Fun88, LeTou, M88, Dafabet and Ope Sports – brands not especially well-known in the UK – are now seen on our televisions every weekend, during the segments of football that break up the adverts for British bookmakers.

While there is some criticism from the marketing industry that shirt sponsorship is a very “blunt instrument” ill-suited to reaching a targeted audience, there is little doubt that the sponsors themselves are happy with their investment. A source close to one such deal said that the sponsor found it to be “incredibly effective”, not just through the shirts on the players themselves, but the LED exposure around the pitch and even fans wearing the shirt all over the world.

But there is also a concern that, not for the first time, English football has sold out to the highest bidder. There are times when a Premier League match, whether live or on television, can look like an advertising channel for the gambling industry.

In June this year the Football Association ended its sponsorship deal with Ladbrokes, deciding that it was not appropriate for a governing body to have a gambling partner, in the light of the Joey Barton ban. In doing so the FA gave up an estimated £12m. That moment could yet mark a change in English football’s relationship with gambling money. Or, as the tide of cash comes in, and the clubs keep saying yes, it may not.

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William Hill to open ARC trackside betting facilities



UK racetrack operator Arena Racing Company (ARC) has confirmed that FTSE-listed bookmaker William Hill will operate new betting facilities within six of its syndicated race-courses.

The bookmaker is set to manage betting facilities ARC tracks; Doncaster, Lingfield Park, Royal Windsor, Southwell, Wolverhampton and Worcester. William Hill and ARC management expect the facilities to be installed within all six racetracks by the end of August.

ARC’s Director of Operations, Mark Spincer commented on the partnership: “We are really pleased to have been able to work with William Hill to ensure all these betting facilities will be open in the coming weeks. As a leading betting operator, and key sponsor partner of ARC, William Hill’s facilities are well placed to meet all customers’ needs and thrive in the years ahead.”

The agreement between ARC and William Hill follows on from the long-term media rights deal agreed between William Hill and The Racing Partnership in December 2016.

Furthermore, William Hill is now the sponsors of the William Hill St Leger Festival which will run at Doncaster racecourse from Wednesday 13 September to Saturday 16 September. 45 entries have been received for the Group 1 £700,000 William Hill St Leger Stakes

William Hill’s Divisional Director for the Northern Region, Steven White, said: “The William Hill facilities at Doncaster are already proving popular so we are excited about extending our presence to the on-course betting facilities at six of ARC’s racecourses. On course customers will receive the full William Hill service enabling them to bet on other courses as well as other sports while viewing the best of the day’s televised sporting action.”

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Las Vegas braces for Floyd Mayweather-Conor McGregor week



Las Vegas bookmakers were having some fun early this year when they posted a line for a fantasy fight between undefeated boxer Floyd Mayweather and UFC superstar Conor McGregor.
Now the fantasy that so many thought was a pipe dream is about to become a huge reality — and one of the biggest sporting spectacles of 2017 right here in Las Vegas. No city handles a big event quite like ours, and Aug. 26 will be remembered as one of its biggest ever.

Mayweather-McGregor has created a worldwide buildup that has even nonsports fans eager to see what transpires inside T-Mobile Arena. That also has translated into a bonanza for sports books, even though there has been a tidal wave of ticket sales on the underdog.

Mayweather is much less of a favorite than when Jimmy Vaccaro made that early line at the South Point. Five months before the fight was made formal, Mayweather was minus-2,700 and McGregor plus-1,200.

By Friday, Mayweather was a minus-550 favorite with McGregor at plus-425 at the South Point. Mayweather is a minus-500 favorite at the Westgate. More than 90 percent of the bets have come in on the pride of Dublin. During the next week, expect thousands of Irish tourists to flood into Las Vegas to enjoy themselves — and bet on their favorite son.

Several big bettors hoping to get Mayweather at a better price than minus-500 might be in luck. You can bet that they will wait until the final hours before the fight. Plenty of big money in fights tends to come late. Obviously the tourists are going to look for a price when they bet on McGregor. They just can’t be sure it’s going to get back above 5-1.

My opinion on the fight? Full disclosure: I had given up on following boxing closely years ago, and I had never become a UFC fan. I understood its appeal, even though I only know it from a distance. But while the UFC has been fueled by a younger generation, this cross-sport extravaganza has captured the imagination of us old-timers.

All the experts I listen to have said McGregor has no chance. The 8-ounce boxing gloves that were approved for the fight are closer to McGregor’s 4-ounce MMA comfort zone, but Mayweather also wanted them because he has used them for a lot of his fights.

The one chance I give McGregor to hurt Mayweather is with his left hand. McGregor is going to push the action early. He is coming after Mayweather, one of the best defensive boxers of all time. Mayweather obviously hopes to dance and duck and deliver counterpunches. But McGregor’s left can come without notice. The only question is whether he will connect.

It should be a great week in Las Vegas, and I cannot wait. And neither can the bookmakers, who could only dream of this fight happening a year ago.

Better to be lucky than good

The most underrated aspect of sports wagering is luck.

Let me walk you through a piece of good fortune that I enjoyed Thursday night. Earlier in the day at the Suncoast, I discovered a daily teaser card that featured baseball and preseason football. Ties lose, which is a distinct disadvantage to anybody who thinks they can beat parlays and teasers. But I took a shot anyway.

The Ravens were getting 8 points at Miami. Baltimore coach John Harbaugh pays attention to preseason games, so that was an easy win.
The St. Louis Cardinals were getting two runs at Pittsburgh, which was an easy victory when the Cardinals won outright.

The San Francisco Giants were teased down to a pick ’em with Jeff Samardzija on the mound, and that also was a winner.

Which takes me to the Yankees and the Mets. I had three runs and the Mets on the card, and that was a loser from the first inning on — until the bottom of the ninth. Trailing 7-1, the Mets loaded the bases, and former Yankee Curtis Granderson came to the plate. I had one lucky chance in a million, and you’ve got it. Granderson hit a grand slam. The Mets lost 7-5, but I cashed with the three runs. It was the opposite of a bad beat.

As I said, luck is the most unsung factor in gambling. Hope you have plenty of it this weekend.
Brent Musburger’s betting column appears Saturday in the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Tune in to him on “My Guys in the Desert” from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and from 3 to 5 p.m. Monday, Thursday and Friday on SiriusXM 204 or VSiN-com.

reviewjournal-com/sports---her-conor-mcgregor-week/

Chelsea and Tottenham battle for Southampton's Cedric: Bookies make them joint favourites

CHELSEA and Tottenham are neck-and-neck to sign Southampton defender Cedric, according to bookmakers BetStars.



Chelsea and Tottenham are both in the market for a new right-back and have been linked with a move for Southampton’s Cedric.

Antonio Conte wants competition for Victor Moses, while Maurico Pochettino is yet to find a replacement for Kyle Walker who joined Manchester City last month.

And according to bookmakers BetStars, the two club are going head-to-head to sign Saints’ Cedric and are both priced at 3/1.

“London rivals Chelsea and Spurs have been left to battle it out for the signature of Cedric Soares this summer,” BetStars director Ian Marmion said.



“They are both joint favourites at 3/1 to snatch the defender from St Mary’s.

“Antonio Conte is desperate to strengthen both wing-back positions before the transfer window slams shut

“The 25-year-old right-back, who was part of Portugal’s Euro 2016 winning squad, is rumoured to be high on the Italian’s defensive wishlist.

“However, the Blues face strong competition from Spurs who are yet to find a suitable replacement for Kyle Walker at right-back.

“The latest odds suggest that the Portugal international could be the man to fill the void.”

Cedric is a key player for Saints and made 34 appearances in all competitions last term and is under contract until June 2020.

express-co-uk/sport/foot---ansfer-News-Betting-Odds

Beginner’s Guide to Bookmakers, Sporting Events & Online Betting



Betting has gone a long way from traditional form otherwise known as live betting to online betting in local and international race circuits through bookmakers’ websites.
Instead of walking over to local bookmaker’s offices, calling up their bookie on the phone – the internet has made betting a lot more convenient for both bookie and punter.

Websites are open 24hours a day. You just click on your options, make a bet and wait for results. Depositing is also easy and with reputable bookmakers, you can withdraw your winnings just as easy as well. Yes, virtual transactions do take a bit of time, but it is far less of a hassle to bet online than drive over to a bookmaker and more private as well.

Every year or less, new forms of online money transfers are invented. Customer support for most bookmaker’s websites can be called directly to negotiate entry to another programme for much more efficient transfers.

Top UK and International Online Bookmakers

When betting on different events, the bookies and punters pay close attention to the contenders as the odds are determined by several factors, including how good the competitors are, home field/court advantage (if applicable), weather conditions (sometimes) and others.

When intending on placing a bet, punters should look in to signing up with the major bookmakers for an added bonus of some extra spending money you usually receive upon joining. We recommend that you check out the most reviewed sites before creating an account with one or more of them. That’s right, consider opening an account with more than one bookmaker to more promos and bonuses.

Here are some of the most popular bookmakers online for UK punters:

* Bet365

Open an account with this international gambling firm and you have unified access to first-class casino games, poker and bingo rooms. Affiliated with IBAS or the Independent Betting Adjudication Service, Bet365 operates and abides by IBAS decisions on any dispute.

* William Hill

This firm may be the world’s leading betting and gaming company and offers their customers the best odds in a wide variety of markets. It has four major businesses that include Retail, Online, William Hill Australia and William Hill US.

One of the trusted names in this industry, you can be assured that your bets are dealt with properly.

* Ladbrokes

Comprised of three gaming and betting brands, Labrokes, Coral and Gala, the betting communities in the UK and across Europe and beyond are provided with state of the art betting services for a wide range of market.

There are more options for you choose from, such as BetFair, Paddy Power and more. There are also websites that present these bookmakers with corresponding promo codes to take advantage of so that you can bet on your favorite sports as an enjoyable betting experience.

Free Bets as Aggressive Marketing Strategy

A popular, yet some say questionable, type of betting bonus is the free bet. Questions about free bets often arise in discussions about choosing a bookmaker or for guides newbies should check out before betting. If there is a major sporting event and you are enticed to bet on its outcome, we recommend that you sign up to a few bookmakers to take advantage of different offers and promotions.

Terms and Conditions apply – you’ll see this often as well. Read these terms and conditions well in order to know what expect exactly and when to expect these incentives to be credited to you.

Seasoned betters have a simple strategy that does not consist of complex betting systems. Free bets are offered by almost all bookmakers and betting exchanges and punters take advantage of the aggressive marketing strategy betting companies use to entice members. Just find an online free bets list of your liking.

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Ben Simmons or Lonzo Ball? Las Vegas bookmakers at odds on NBA Rookie of the Year favorite



There is a difference of opinion between two prominent Las Vegas sports books about who is the favorite to be awarded NBA Rookie of the Year for the 2017-18 season, with the 76ers’ Ben Simmons priced with the shortest odds at the Westgate SuperBook, but the Lakers’ Lonzo Ball listed as the chalk at William Hill U.S.

Simmons and Ball are the top overall picks from the last two NBA Drafts, although Simmons missed all of last season as he was recovering from foot surgery.

Westgate bookmakers are higher on the Sixers than they are on the Lakers, a key reason they opened Simmons the favorite.

"We expect Philadelphia to exceed the Lakers in wins and make the playoffs in the East, with Simmons having better stats (than Ball)," Jeff Sherman, assistant manager at the Westgate, told ESPN in a text message. "Had Simmons come out in this loaded class, he still would have been the No. 1 pick in the draft."

The Lakers are sizable 6-to-1 underdogs to make the playoffs.

At 4/1, the Mavericks’ Dennis Smith is third on both books’ Rookie of the Year oddsboards, followed by Philly’s Markelle Fultz, the Kings’ De’Aaron Fox and the Celtics’ Jayson Tatum.

The Suns’ Josh Jackson, meanwhile, is getting more respect at the Westgate than he is at William Hill.

Here is a partial list of the Rookie of the Year odds at both shops.

Rookie of Year odds Westgate William Hill

Ben SIMMONS (PHI) 5/2 4/1
Lonzo BALL (LAL) 11/4 9/5
Dennis SMITH JR (DAL) 4/1 4/1
Markelle FULTZ (PHI) 15/2 13/2
De'Aaron FOX (SAC) 10/1 8/1
Josh JACKSON (PHX) 10/1 15/1
Jayson TATUM (BOS) 10/1 8/1
Donovan MITCHELL (UTA)15/1 25/1
Malik MONK (CHA) 25/1 15/1
Jonathan ISAAC (ORL) 30/1 50/1
John COLLINS (ATL) 30/1 50/1
Bam ADEBAYO (MIA) 30/1 75/1
Milos TEODOSIC (LAC) 40/1 *
Justin JACKSON (SAC) 40/1 50/1
Lauri MARKKANEN (CHI)40/1 25/1
Zach COLLINS (POR) 40/1 75/1
Frank NTILIKINA (NY) 50/1 50/1
Luke KENNARD (DET) 50/1 75/1

Open William Hill

Racing Victoria won't stop AFL markets being advertised on racing-com



Racing Victoria won't intervene to stop corporate bookmakers from advertising betting on other sports on its racing-com channel.

Eyebrows have been raised in recent weeks with corporate bookmakers, such as CrownBet, advertising AFL markets on the racing-owned broadcaster.

Betting on other sports competes with racing for the punting dollar. Racing Victoria confirmed that it did not receive any wagering revenue from betting on other sports by corporate bookmakers. It only receives a share of betting on these sports done via the TAB.

"We're advised by racing-com that, in line with the expansion of racing-com to South Australian racing, each wagering advertiser has paid for a small number of additional advertising spots in which they are permitted to promote markets of their choice," a Racing Victoria spokesman said.

"Racing-com advise that CrownBet utilised this allocation to promote markets around Winx and AFL football last Saturday. Racing-com further advise that none of this was done at the expense of markets for the Victorian races, which represented the majority of CrownBet advertising throughout the day."

Meanwhile, social media has been flooded with criticism of racing-com's decision to axe popular presenter Sam Hyland.

Hyland will no longer conduct post-race horseback interviews and will be replaced by ex-Sydney jockey Dean Pettit.

Pettit was a member of the TVN broadcasting outfit that collapsed under the weight of massive debts. Some RVL board members had maintained that hiring former TVN employees would be a rarity.

Racing-com CEO Andrew Catterall defended the decision in an interview on RSN, claiming he had to "trust" his production team.

"They've made a call that there are other alternatives, or perhaps better alternatives, that we should invest time and training into, and, that will mean working with Dean [Pettit]," Catterall said.

"That will also mean trying to work with the VJA [Victorian Jockeys Association] to find other retiring jockeys who we believe will present more upside to the channel over time. That's not to knock what Sam achieved in his role, he did a great job. We do think, though, as part of the next phase of the channel we can improve the representation of horseback."

Catterall also confirmed racing-com would not go back to showing live mounting-yard pictures of part of its coverage. Instead, viewers are now presented with pre-recorded mounting-yard vision.

A key strategic executive in Andrew Demetriou's AFL administration, Catterall was forced to leave the league at the end of 2012. What Demetriou described at the time as a "tsunami of complaints" from staff about Catterall's behaviour had landed on the then CEO's desk
shortly after he returned from the London Olympics.

It later emerged the AFL had settled a $200,000 bullying claim levelled against Catterall from a former staff member who claimed he had been mistreated over a two-year period.

When asked about the Racing-com deal last month AFL boss Gillon McLachlan said only that group's media team would be entering AFL headquarters and not Catterall. But, in fact, Catterall has held several meetings in the AFL building.

Racing-com became the largest corporate sponsor in the South Australian racing industry when they signed a seven-year deal at $6 million a year.

The funding of SA racing has lifted prizemoney in that state. But Victorian owners and major stake-holders are concerned that, by extension, Racing Victoria funds the SA investment with money raised in this state.

Racing-com has said it intends to add more racing coverage in the future and bid for the right to broadcast the likes of Queensland, New South Wales, Tasmania and Northern Territory racing.

smh-com-au/sport/horsera---com-20170823-gy2gw0-html

What if McGregor wins? Las Vegas sportsbooks have lost big before



Some old-school bookmakers, guys who have seen sports betting in Las Vegas evolve over the past 40 years, weren't super fired up when the Floyd Mayweather-Conor McGregor fight was made official in June.

With Mayweather such a heavy favorite, they weren't convinced that the fight would generate that much betting interest. Two months later, they're starting to realize they were wrong.

"Of all the big events I have booked, all the whales I have dealt with, liability on this fight will be greater than any event in my 38-year career," one veteran Las Vegas bookmaker told ESPN.

A lot has changed over the past four decades. In 1987, bets totaled $1.3 billion at Nevada sportsbooks. This year, the books are on pace to handle more than $5 billion. So naturally, since more money is being bet, the biggest decisions the books face are also growing to unprecedented amounts.

Mayweather-McGregor is the perfect example.

"On a boxing match, I think it will be [the biggest decision we've had at our books]," said Ed Malinowski, sportsbook director at the Stratosphere hotel and casino in Las Vegas.

As bookmakers prepare for a multimillion-dollar sweat on Saturday night, here's a look back at several of the other big decisions Las Vegas sportsbooks have faced recently:

Mike Tyson vs. Evander Holyfield

Date: Nov. 19, 1996

It was the beginning of the end of Tyson's domination of the heavyweight division, and bookmakers weren't ready for it. Tyson opened as a -2500 favorite over Holyfield at MGM's sportsbook. Richie Baccellieri was running the book at Caesars Palace and decided to make the price a little shorter. The first big bet they took on Tyson was $68,000 at -1700 to win $4,000.

"That might have been the last bet we wrote on the favorite in a month," Baccellieri recalled.

The price on Tyson shrunk dramatically leading up to the fight, down to -500 or less at some books. Baccellieri said they pulled out all the stops trying to get action on Tyson from professional players. It wasn't enough to even out all of the money on Holyfield, who dominated for the majority of the fight and stopped Tyson in the 11th round. Caesars Palace took a bath.

"We did everything we could and still went into the fight three-quarters of a million long on the 'dog," Baccellieri said. "We used to have an inventory of race and sports chips at Caesars that was always very low, because all the big players, the sharp guys had them. We got them all back that night."

National championship game, Clemson Tigers vs. Alabama Crimson Tide

Date: Jan. 9, 2017

Clemson's last-second touchdown to beat Alabama in last season's title-game thriller delivered multiple Nevada sportsbooks their worst loss ever on a college football game. William Hill reported that Clemson's 35-31 win cost the book a "seven-figure" loss.

"It was as bad a result as humanly possible," William Hill director of trading Nick Bogdanovich, a veteran Las Vegas bookmaker, told ESPN the day after the game.

Holly Holm vs. Ronda Rousey

Date: Nov. 14, 2015

The Stratosphere sportsbook had enjoyed a very profitable college football Saturday, but it was all gone when Holm knocked out the heavily-favored Rousey in the second round.

"We had a great, great college football Saturday," said Malinowski, "and then Holm wiped all [of] it away."

Holm closed as high as an 8-1 underdog and attracted the bulk of the bets. For every one bet on Rousey at MGM's sportsbook, there were 50 on Holm. Holm's upset of Rousey delivered the largest loss for a UFC fight ever for MGM.

1991 World Series, Minnesota Twins vs. Atlanta Braves

The Twins and Braves, a pair of last-place teams the previous season, had sportsbooks in a million dollars by the time they reached the 1991 World Series.

The Twins finished 14 games under .500 the season before, and the Braves had lost 97 games. They were the dregs of baseball with World Series odds reflective of that. To start the season, the Twins and Braves had odds as high as 200-1 and 300-1 at some books.

"We were in a no-win situation with either of those teams," Bill Sattler, director of specialty games for Caesars Entertainment, recalled. Although there was little difference, the Twins beat the Braves in a thrilling seven-game World Series.

In November, the month after the World Series, when patrons would have been cashing in their futures bets, Nevada sportsbooks lost $950,000 on baseball, according to state gaming control.

Super Bowl XLVIII, Denver Broncos vs. Seattle Seahawks

Date: Feb. 2, 2014

To be fair, Las Vegas has won its fair share of big decisions as well, including in Super Bowl XLVIII between the favored Denver Broncos and the Seattle Seahawks.

The books won a record $19.7 million on the Seahawks' 43-8 blowout of Peyton Manning and the Broncos. It smashed the previous most lucrative Super Bowl for the books by more than $4 million.

Since the Nevada Gaming Control Board began tracking wagering on the Super Bowl in 1991, the state's regulated sportsbooks have come out ahead in 25 of 27 games. The books are up a net $173.6 million on the Super Bowl during that span.

espn-co-uk/chalk/story/_---kmakers-taken-big-losses

Vegas bookies dreading McGregor upset



LAS VEGAS (AFP) -
Las Vegas bookmakers are nervously sweating on the outcome of Saturday's Floyd Mayweather-Conor McGregor superfight, which has already become the most heavily bet upon fight in the gambling city's history.

The vast majority of bets placed on this weekend's bout have been for McGregor, the Irish mixed martial arts superstar who is facing Mayweather in what will be his first ever boxing contest.

With Mayweather a 2/9 favourite, punters in Las Vegas have gravitated towards McGregor, whose odds have dropped to 5-1 with some bookmakers.

Nick Bogdanovich, William Hill US's director of trading, told AFP that bets on McGregor were outstripping wagers on Mayweather by a ratio of 17 to 1.

"It's been insane," Bogdanovich said. "We've got a massive decision on our hands because the McGregor money just keeps pouring in. It's been fun.

"It's bigger than any fight we've ever booked in the state of Nevada. It's almost like a Super Bowl."

Bogdanovich said the fight had appealed to casual fans tempted by a big payday if McGregor somehow manages to pull off what would be a monumental upset.

"The people that are betting is revealing -- it's your meter-maid, it's your butcher, it's your garbage man, your every day Joe is involved in this fight," Bogdanovich said.

"They're willing to bet a little to win a lot. They think that if they put up their $100 (84 euros) they get $500 back and that appeals to them. We knew it would appeal to them, we just didn't think it would appeal to that many. We underestimated exactly how many people would be backing Mr McGregor."

Bookmakers face seven-figure losses if McGregor defeats Mayweather, with one estimate predicting $48 million losses.

Bogdanovich said the oddsmakers would absorb the hit.

"It's no big deal. If we lose, we pay, and we open up for business the next day," he said, confident that the tale of the tape still favoured the bookies.

"We're in a pretty good spot I think. Mayweather is probably the greatest pound for pound fighter ever, he's 49-0 and he's fighting a guy who's 0-0 and who's never been in a 12-round boxing match. The challenge is so big.

"You're asking someone's first boxing match to be against a legend. That's a tall order."

One of the most popular novelty bets is for McGregor to lose by disqualification, he added.

"A lot of people believe that McGregor will get frustrated and eventually snap and do something Tyson-like," Bogdanovich said, referring to former heavyweight Mike Tyson's infamous 1997 chomp on Evander Holyfield's ear.

Some of the biggest individual wagers include a bettor who placed $300,000 on Mayweather to win. The bettor would net $60,000 if the American is victorious, according to William Hill.

Another anonymous bettor placed an $880,000 stake on Mayweather at one casino, a wager that stands to recoup $160,000 if successful, according to US reports.

france24-com/en/20170824----dreading-mcgregor-upset

Floyd Mayweather 'attempted to bet $400,000 on himself' beating Conor McGregor hours before fight

Floyd Mayweather attempted to bet $400,000 (£310,000) on himself winning his fight with Conor McGregor in under 9.5 rounds - but was stopped by the bookmaker, according to ESPN.

The 40-year-old made it 50-0 with a 10th-round stoppage on Saturday in a fight expected to earn him more than $200million.

But in the afternoon leading up to the fight, Mayweather is reported to have tried to place two bets on himself - one winning in under 9.5 rounds, which he did with a minute to spare, and another winning by knockout.

However, he was stopped by doing so as the Las Vegas bookmaker checked whether Mayweather was able to place such a bet. The unbeaten boxer left because of the delay.

Nevada State Athletic Commission does not have any rules stopping fighters from betting on themselves.

"I think that we bet 100 on 9.5," Mayweather told the news provider after his victory. "I gave my guy six figures to go bet. I have to make sure he bet because earlier today I went to the sports book to bet and they wouldn't let me bet."

Mayweather frequently bets on other sports, posting updates on his social media accounts.

Fight fans, too, bet in their millions. Reports suggest the biggest bets on the fight were upwards of $1million, while one Londoner placed £100,000 on McGregor to win.

McGregor was defiant after his 10-round loss to the undefeated Floyd Mayweather, questioning whether the fight at the T-Mobile Arena should have been stopped at all.

The mixed martial arts champion opened strongly in the first four rounds of his professional boxing debut before visibly tiring.

Mayweather then came into his own and by the time the fight was stopped, he was landing heavy blows almost at will.

"I thought it was close, though, and I thought it was a bit of an early stoppage," McGregor said.

"I was just a little fatigued. He was just a lot more composed with his shots."

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In this case... Well you want to bet in your match... i think they made right choice to not accept his bet