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Aussie
Rules
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Centrebet Capers
2003 IN REVIEW Another year is about to pass us by, and it is time to reflect on what happened in sports betting in 2003, and make a few predictions for 2004. The sports betting landscape is changing on a daily basis, and while there were several casualties in the bookmaking ranks in 2003, there were just as many will to step up to the plate as replacements. The number of internet based sports betting operations is now apparently in excess of 700, each trying to impress to gain new business, and the 'lures' being made available have been the reasons why some have collapsed. While it is always hard to overlook a bargain, it is worth remembering the adage that 'if it looks too good to be true, then it normally is'. From a Centrebet perspective, 2003 saw a change in ownership when the Sydney based Sportodds group purchased Centrebet form Jupiters. From a customer view point, they would have noticed little change, except that we are back doing business with Americans, and we have made initial steps to cover racing on a daily basis. It will take a little time, but Centrebet customers can look forward to an extensive coverage of racing (all codes) daily from all over the world. While we may be recognised as offering the most sports betting options in the world, we aren't going to stop there, with even more products and events coming in the not too distant future. Government interference in sports betting became a bigger issue in 2003. Surprisingly, some Governments around the world have spent a lot of time and resources trying to convince their residents of the evils of trading with bookmakers not licensed in their own country. While it should be every consumers right to get the best deal he can for himself, apparently punting is different! This issue won’t go away, so if you are a punter living in a country that is trying to force you to bet only in one place, voice you opinion to the relevant politicians. And now for a look at what transpired in the 'betting ring' for the year...... The 'biggest bet' for the year' - An English client placed $250,000 on England to win the Rugby World Cup at $1.65. It was bad enough that they won anyway, that just made it worse. The 'biggest winning bet ' (single) for the year- £5000 on the draw in normal time at 20/1 in the same game - one lucky Irishman has 100,000 reasons (and that is pounds!) to thank Wallaby kicker Elton Flatley for kicking the penalty that tied the game up. The ‘biggest losing bet for the year’ – To the Kiwi punter, who in two bets, plonked $140,000 on New Zealand to win the Rugby World Cup. The 'biggest winning multi' for the year- There were a few of these, but the largest payout was $230,000 form an outlay of $33,000 on four AFL games back in June. The Centrebet client 'hard luck story' of the year- To the Sydney client who had $6000 on The Pope at $1.50 to win the Nobel Peace Prize. How could he possibly lose? The 'most predictable result' of the year – That Rosenborg would win the Norwegian Football title for the 12th time in a row. We decided to take the punters ‘on’, but we have now learnt our lesson. The 'most unpredictable result' of the year- Tiger Woods failed to win a Major. Is Tiger ‘gone’? The 'we had the cash in the bag' bet of the year- A New Zealand punter placed $80,000 at $1.16 for Australia to win the current test cricket series against India. After India won the second test in Adelaide we have this punter down for the count but he is now back in the hunt. The most 'bizarre bet' of the year- To the Sydney punter who placed $100 on Namibia, Romania and Uruguay, each at $5001 to win the Rugby World Cup. The 'biggest upset' of the year- Ben Curtis, a 300/1 chance, winning the British Open. Honourable mention to Croatia's loss at $1.02 in the first game of the Men’s World Handball Championship. The 'biggest plunge' of the year that won- Australian Rugby League, Wests Tigers were backed from $3 into $2.10 before thrashing Newcastle (without Andrew Johns) 52-6. Must remember, 'no Johns, no Newcastle' The 'biggest plunge of the year that lost' - Kim Clijsters in the US Open tennis final. Clijsters was backed from $1.85 into $1.40 in a huge betting match on the back of info that Justine Henin-Hardenne was on her death bed. Bad mail, Henin-Hardenne never looked like losing. The 'biggest drift of the year'- Once again, Aussie Rugby League, when Johns was ruled out for the season with a neck injury, Newcastle's premiership price went from $9 to $26 within minutes. The 'drive of the year'- not Tiger Woods, but Norwegian Petter Solberg. The rally champion was contesting the Rally of Corsica (which he won), and faced certain death as he careered out of control towards a 200 metre sheer drop. Solberg managed to crash head on into the only obstacle around, a telephone pole! The 'best comeback of 2003' (Australian) - Bali bombing victim Jason McCartney came back from the brink of death to play for AFL side the Kangaroos. The 'Roos won narrowly, and McCartney then retired, but not before he proved an inspiration to the whole Country. The 'best comeback of 2003' (International) - England! The last time any Englishman won anything was when Bucks Fizz won the Eurovision Song Contest back in 1983. Now they have a World Cup (but it's only on loan). Herman Maier - Lucky to be alive, 'the Herminator' completed a dream comeback when he won the Super G in Kitzbühel 3 weeks ago. The 'quickest exit by a favourite' for the year - Lleyton Hewitt, a raging $1.05 chance, was bundled out of the first round Wimbledon. The 'most improved individual' for the year- Dwain Chambers, but now it looks like it was more than the wind that was assisting him. The 'most improved team' for the year - Rosenborg. How can a team that have won 12 National titles in a row get better? Well they have, and we have opened Rosenborg at $1.03 (1/33!!) to win next years title, the shortest price ever in a competition like this. And now for some awards........ The'foot in mouth award'- David Campese. 'Bagged' the English rugby side, then had to fly half way around the world to apologize when they won the World Cup. The 'bad taste of the year award' - To the bookies who took bets on the war in Iraq when it started. Sadly they got some publicity out of it. The 'whatever happened to' award- To sprinter Tim Montgomery. Currently wouldn't run out of sight in a dark night. The 'most over-rated sportsteam' award- To the Barcelona football side. Punters have once again dropped a small fortune backing the Spanish side each week, and they continue to lose. The 'most under-rated sportsman' award - Kim Collins. Kim who? The St Kitts sprinter won the 100 metres title at the World Championships, but all the publicity has been centred on others who failed. The 'most improved sportsman' award - Michael Phelps. Will be a sensation in Athens. The 'most disappointing sportsman' award - Juan Pablo Montoya - plenty of ability, but no patience. Maybe he should be driving taxi's in Sydney? The ‘things can only get better’ award – To the country of Namibia, all out for 45 runs against Australia in the World Cup cricket match, then belted 142-0 by the Wallabies in a rugby World Cup match. The boys have some work to do. The 'goose of the year' award - for the second year in a row, goes to Mark Bosnich. The ‘Lazarus’ (back from the dead) award – Peter Senior. The Aussie golfing veteran, after years in the doldrums, turned it all around to win the Australian PGA title. The ‘biggest betting non sporting event’ of the year award – Eurovision Song Contest, closely followed by the Academy Awards and Australian Idol. The 'I need a drink' award - to the punter who placed $100,000 on Australia at $1.10 to beat Ireland in their Rugby World Cup game. The Wallabies hit the front with three minutes to play, winning 17-16. An honourable mention must go to the Aussie punter who placed $16,000 to win $160 (1/100) on Serena Williams to beat Emille Loit during the Australian Tennis Open. Williams was down and out, but came back to win the third set 7-5, a hard way to earn $160! The 'it's too hot in the kitchen' award- to 'warm' favourite Leo Pusa in the World Sauna Sitting Championships. Unfortunately for those who backed him, Leo couldn't stand the heat in the sauna and finished a gallant second, but is already in training for next year’s event. The 'choke of the year award' - Australian- To the Hawthorn Aussie Rules team. Led lowly St Kilda by 52 points in the second quarter of their first round match, only to lose! The 'choke of the year award'- International- The All Blacks- Went 'missing' in the World Cup Rugby semi-final against Australia. The 'catch of the year' award- who else but George Bush? And that now famous catch has seen Bushs' odds to win the US Presidential race cut from $1.55 into $1.30. The 'dummy spit' of the year award- to the New Zealand Rugby Union Board for sacking John Mitchell. Leading the All Blacks into a World Cup campaign is like buying a ticket on the Titanic. Sprinter Jon Drummond also deserves this award for his performance at the World Championships. The bookies 'team of the year' award- Chelsea. The bookies thank you from the bottom of their hearts. 'Boom' side that continue to lose when the big money is on them. The bookies 'player of the year' award - Ivo Karlovic - became a household name when he defeated Lleyton Hewitt ($1.05) at Wimbledon, then was favourite in most of his matches for the next six weeks and couldn't fire a shot. The 'poor taste of the year' award- to those, and there were plenty, who contacted Centrebet wanting to bet on the war in Iraq. The Centrebet 'Australian sportsperson of the year' award - To 400 metre hurdler Jana Pittman. Jana beat 'the Russian' to win the World Title, and has a second to none chance of doing the same in Athens. The Centrebet 'sportsman of the year ' award- Lance Armstrong- It looks like the only way he won’t win next years Tour de France is if he doesn't compete. The 'runner-up' award goes to Estonian Margo Uusorg, who once again won the World Wife Carrying Championship, his fourth from the last five years (didn’t compete the other year). We think all men can sympathise with what Uusorg must go through in his training regime! And now for some prognostications................. Locally... The Brisbane Lions will win a record breaking fourth AFL title in a row, beating Collingwood by 20 goals. Shane Crawford will win the Brownlow Medal, and will earn a Gold Logie nomination as 'Hank Bulger'. The Western Bulldogs will win the wooden spoon. All 75 rule changes for the pre-season AFL comp will be ignored for the season proper. The Sydney Roosters will win the NRL title, as well as their court case regarding the salary cap conditions. From season 2005 onwards, the Roosters will be the only side left in the competition, but at least they will win the premiership again. South Sydney's woes will continue, and they will run last. Chris Beattie and Adrian Morley won’t have to front the NRL judiciary for the entire season. And yes, the moon is made of cheese. NSW will win the State of Origin Series, and Coach Gus Gould will write an article for the Daily Telegraph on how he masterminded the win. An Australian team will not win the rugby Super 12 title (that was easy!). The Auckland Blues will. New Zealand will win the Tri-Nations. Wendell Sailor will 'hint' at switching codes, this time cricket, to bolster the Aussie bowling ranks. After New Zealand beat Australia in the Tri Nations rugby, Wallaby coach Eddie Jones will be banished to the Siberian Salt mines where he will work alongside John Mitchell. Brian Kelleher will order George Gregan's mouth to be taped up before a Super 12 match starts. David Campese and Clive Woodward will say something nice about each other. Aussie cricket captain will again stun his critics and make a century in his last test in Sydney. Somebody will work out that the Australian cricket team have three days off in June, and a three day test against Finland will be scheduled. Shane Warne will come back and break every record that he doesn't already hold. Queensland will win the ING Cup and NSW will win the Pura Cup. A 'betting scandal' will erupt. Illegal Indian bookies will stop betting on cricket because 'the game is too clean". The Sydney Kings will win the NBL title for the second year in a row. Anthony Mundine will agree to fight Danny Green the same day Elvis is found alive. Michael Schumacher will win the Australian Grand Prix, and Mark Webber will finish amongst the points. Roger Federer and Serena Williams will win their respective titles at the Australian Open. And Internationally...... Tiger Woods will fail to win a Major the second successive season, and will enter a women’s event in an attempt to find form. Australians will win all four Majors! Robert Allenby the first (US Masters), Peter Lonard the second (US Open), and Adam Scott will show his versatility by winning the last two, the British Open and the USPGA. Euro 2004 favourites France will not make the semi finals. The title will be won by Italy, ripping millions from the bookies bags. David Beckham will score the winning goal for Real Madrid against Man United to win the Champions League Trophy. During the after goal celebrations, Beckham will throw his boot at Alex Ferguson. Man United will win the English Premier League, Real Madrid will win Spain, Juventus will win in Italy, and Bayern Munich will wrap up the German title. In Norway, Rosenborg will their 13th title in a row, FCK will oust Brondby in Denmark, and Djurgarden will win the Swedish title. Chelsea will win the FA Cup. An un-named English Premier League player will write an article titled ' we are overpaid'. Even though he has to ride a penny-farthing, Lance Armstrong will win the Tour de France. Jon Drummond false starts in the Olympic men’s 100 metres final, then nails himself to the track when he is disqualified. Michael Phelps will win Six Olympic Gold medals in the pool. Maria Mutola will remain unbeaten in 2004 winning the 800m gold in Athens. Roger Federer will continue his domination of men’s tennis and he will win Wimbledon. Serena Williams will win the women’s title. Sete Gibernau will take over the reigns as the number one Honda rider and will win the world title. Perennial Grand Prix favourite Valentino Rossi will struggle on his Yamaha. The LA Lakers will win the NBA title. St Louis Rams will win the Superbowl. Detroit will win the Stanley Cup. The USA will completely dominate the Athens Olympics. The two big political ‘races’ for the year will be won by the short priced favourites George Bush and John Howard. Well that’s it for another year, have a happy New Year and may you all back plenty of winners in 2004, just don’t do it with Centrebet! Until next week, good punting. For further information contact Gerard Daffy at Centrebet on 08 89555800 or centrebet@centrebet.com.
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