World Cup Gambling

[Blowfish]

UPDATED 6/14/2006 FOR WORLD CUP 2006


THE BEST SPORTSBOOK TO BET THE WORLD CUP???

PINNACLE SPORTS


By far the most bet offers and best odds of any sportsbook in the world!!

[Cons]

The soccer World Cup will be the biggest gambling event in the history of this planet. Every time it comes along (once in 4 years) it eclipses anything and everything before it. And believe me, it'll be no different this time around.

46 days to go...

[Blowfish]

Oh no doubt. Soccer has always been the most popular sport worldwide when it comes to betting. I just thought it interesting to point out that other countries are making moves to attempt to crack down on gambling. Notice I said ATTEMPT.

Not to mention, no one ever discusses events outside the U.S. in the forum--gambling related or not.

[Cons]

I would say that Asia is probably the largest betting market in the world but it's hard to call on any official figures simply because there aren't any. It's all hush-hush in many cases, but nonetheless, it's big business there. It also seems to be part of their culture, gambling that is. Or so I am led to believe.

And soccer is, of course, the biggest $$$ magnet in betting. Turnover is going to be absolutely huge in June, and during this World Cup live betting will also kick in with full force. That will cause the turnover to sky-rocket even further.

[Blowfish]

Of course the Asian market is huge--there are more people there than anywhere else in the world. It is a market hard to tap into because of cultural differences, and I believe many books have had problems with fraud and security when dealing with these sorts of customers. It is a shame.

The World Cup could really boost some books hold in the slow season if they could get a good international response.

[Shawn]

The great thing about the World Cup is that there's so much to bet on...matches, groups, outright, golden boot...and so many places offering it.

We've had 3-way match pricing for the group stage up since December, and have been steadily adding props. As the tournament draws closer we'll have our dimeline two-ways, first halves, and all the other groovy stuff. Here are a couple of things that (so far) seem to be Pinnacle exclusives:

--Two-way betting on the best eight countries to win, or not to win the world cup

--"Will there be a goal in the first "X" minutes?" prop for every match

This is the type of marketplace right now where there's sufficient price variation so that the smart bettor is certainly taking the best of it. One site I'd reccommend you check out is betbrain.com as they have price comparisons for the first 48 matches as well as the outrights.

Cheers,
Shawn
www.planetpinnacle.com