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Centrebet Capers Well, it's all over for another year as we sit back and take a quick look at what happened in 2002, and also try and predict a few winners in 2003. 2002 was another successful year for Centrebet. In keeping up with a consistent trend, we grew by another 40%, a mighty effort considering how many sports books there are out there now. Perhaps it is the "safety" of dealing with Australian sports books that continues to attract new clients, as well as our exhaustive range of sports covered. Plenty of sports bookies disappeared into cyberspace (with punters funds) in 2002, and unfortunately it is a practice that will continue to grow as many are operating in areas where the regulatory regimes are questionable to say the least. Cloning has been in the news this week, but cloning of a different nature is currently rife in the sports betting industry. "Pinching" the product range of other Bookmakers has now become so blatant that it is now an accepted part of the business. We have even had a European Bookmaker open up NBL (Yes, Australian basketball!) prices within 15 minutes of us opening them. Mysteriously they were always the same! Centrebet covered more events this year than ever before, including a couple of strange ones, and a couple shrouded in controversy. We covered several Reality TV shows around the world and also bet on the "World Wife Carrying Championship" which was held in Finland. We also had a market open on "Miss World", but took the betting down after there were several murders relating to the awards in Nigeria. Closer to home, the NRL, the Governing body of the Australian Rugby League, took umbrage to Centrebet accepting bets on how many penalties referee Bill Harrigan would award in the NRL Grand Final. In a rather childish display it was the NRL who seemingly questioned the credibility of their officials, while the rest of the country tried to work out what the big deal was. This backlash came from the same body who "don't condone betting on Rugby League", this same body who have their own "Sports Bookmaker" advertising on their Web Site, and who have in the past accepted sponsorship off a Sports Bookmaker! And they say we shouldn't be betting on Rugby League? In August, there was one week we covered 772 Soccer matches around the world. This year also saw us add Surfing, Squash, and several Table Tennis fixtures with more to come in 2003. Another five languages were added to our website, and we recently added "Switch" and "Delta" cards to our method of payments. Several big changes are in store in the early part of 2003, so stay tuned! Now for a look at the year that was, and what is coming up:- The "biggest bet" for the year - A Brisbane man placed $200,000 on Brisbane at $1.25 to win the AFL premiership (won by 9 points). The same person put $50,000 on the Lions two weeks prior at $1.95. The "biggest winning bet" of the year - There were plenty, but one Sydney punter had $100,000 at $2.10 on Cronulla to beat the New Zealand Warriors at home. The Sharks won 36-24, which saw this Shark's fan accumulate close to $300,000 in a four week period when they were on a winning roll. The "biggest losing bet" for the year - There were plenty of these as well! One of our Indian punters (a regular winner!) had $100,000 on the Aussie cricket side at $1.25 in a one day match against New Zealand, which they lost. The same man also had $90,000 on the Aussies to win that one day series, and they didn't make the final. We also took a bet of $90,000 from Germany for France to beat Denmark ($1.50) in a World Cup soccer match which the Danes won. The Centrebet "hard luck story" bet of the year - A Victorian punter won $137,000 when Sydney Swans player Darren Cresswell kicked the winning goal after the siren, from a very dubious free kick. The Centrebet client "hard luck story" of the year - An Aussie client had a "pick 4", Spain to beat Paraguay in a World Cup game (won), into the Kangaroos to beat Richmond in the AFL (won), into the Lakers to beat New Jersey in game two of the NBA final (won) and finished off with the West Coast Eagles at -17½ points against Sydney in an AFL match. It was worth $306,000 if the Eagles covered, and for the last two minutes of the match, they led by 13 points and had possession, but couldn't score. It was a traumatic two minutes for all concerned. The "most predictable result" of the year - The polls said Edmund Stoiber would be elected as the German Chancellor, but the money said Gerhard Shroder. Once again the money was right. The most "predictable result" of the year that "didn't happen" - The USA, raging $1.15 favourites, didn't win the World basketball championships. The most "unpredictable result" of the year - Kiwi Craig Perks, a 300/1 chance, won golf's Players Championship, and hasn't been heard of since. The "we were counting the cash, but" bet of the year - We took a $10,000 bet at $1.85 that there would be a goal scored inside the first two minutes during the World Cup. We thought we had the money, but in game 63, the playoff for third, Turkey's Hakan Sukur scored after 13 seconds, the quickest ever World Cup goal. The most "bizarre bet" of the year - To the Norwegian who placed $1500 on Alex at $11 to win Australian Big Brother. How was he doing the form, and why would he bother? The "biggest upset of the year" - Senegal's 1-0 win over France in the very first World Cup game. Punters were hit hard, and never recovered. The "biggest plunge of the year" that won - An NRL game, the New Zealand Warriors were backed from an isolated $3.30 into $2.30, and beat the Newcastle Knights. The "biggest plunge of the year" that lost - During Origin time, Wests Tigers were backed from $1.48 into $1.35, but were beaten 28-12 by an under manned Brisbane. In the Australian Rules, Hawthorn firmed from $1.80 into $1.48 in a nationwide plunge, but went down to the Kangaroos, a side who did bookies lots of favours this season. The "best comeback" of 2002 (Australian) - Peter Lonard tied the PGA Championship, then won the Masters. It was only a few years ago that Lonard contacted the "Ross River" virus, and his sporting future looked all over. The "best comeback" of 2002 (International) - No doubt, Pete Sampras' win as a $41 chance over Andre Agassi in the US Open. The "quickest exit by a favourite" - Dead heat between Lleyton Hewitt who was bundled out of the first round of the Australian Open by Alberto Martin (the first time the number one seed has lost the first round), and World Cup favourites France, who failed to score a goal before an inglorious exit at the end of the first round. And now for our annual awards:- The "foot in mouth" award - Anthony Mundine. "The Man" is a perpetual winner of this award, as every time he opens his mouth, he puts his foot in it. It's good for business though, as each time Mundine fights, people bet against him, even though the credentials of his opponents are always questionable. The "brave heart" award - To anybody that bets on golf tournaments. Every week, a different winner, always at long odds. The "most over-rated sportsman of the year" award - Juan Pablo Montoya - fast driver, but would be better suited driving taxis in Sydney. The "most under-rated sportsman of the year" award - Michael Vaughan, English cricketer. Vaughan broke the record for the most test runs scored by and Englishman in a calendar year, but unfortunately didn't receive too many accolades as the media focus was always on the rest of the side, who can't play! "Team of the year" award - West Ham United - bookies thank you from the bottoms of their hearts - lose when favourites, competitive when not. The "Lazarus" (back from the dead) award - Rosenborg, who came from 14 points behind to win the Norwegian football title. Their winning run started the week after we said they couldn't win. The "choke of the year" award (1) - NRL team Manly led Cronulla 18-0 at half time, and lost 42-24. A Cronulla fan had $40,000 at -5½ points start. Ouch! The "choke of the year" award (2) - Colin Montgomerie - second round of 64 in the British Open, then came out in the third round and shot 84. The "biggest non betting event" of the year award - Australian celebrity Big Brother - might have had something to do with the lack of real "celebrities". The "tortoise and the hare" award - Who else but Steve Bradbury, the Aussie speed skater who won "gold" in Salt Lake City. The guy is a legend, and retired immediately! The "poor taste of the year" award - To a couple of people who contacted Centrebet wanting to know would we be betting if war broke out between Iraq and America. Get real! The "actor of the year" award - Peter Phelps, from Stingers, who in his acceptance speech mentioned Centrebet's "Logie" prices. The "goal sneak" of the year award - Wayne Carey. Need we say anymore? The "whatever happened to National pride" award - To those Commonwealth Games athletes who got "injuries" in the week leading up to the games, and didn't compete. The "biggest bonus of the year" award (1) - To punters who backed South Sydney with Centrebet to win the NRL wooden spoon. They got paid, as we deemed they had been unfairly treated. The "biggest bonus of the year" award (2) - To those who backed Rubens Barrichello in the Austrian Grand Prix. We gave them their money back when Barrichello was forced to surrender the race to Michael Schumacher. The "most disappointing team" of 2002 - Dead heat between the LA Lakers (NBA) and the St Louis Rams (NFL). The "most improved team" of 2002 - Another dead heat. Sociedad in Spanish football and the English Rugby team. The "most improved sportsperson" in 2002 - Anika Sorenstam - She was already a good player, but eleven wins from 23 tournaments put even Tiger Woods' records to shame! The "most disappointing sportsperson" in 2002 - Martina Hingis. At 22 years of age, is Hingis "gone?" The "team of the year" - Brazil - It was only twelve months ago that Brazil were no certainties to qualify for the World Cup, and before the first match, most experts didn't rate them at all. The cream always rises to the top! The "sportsperson of the year" - Lleyton Hewitt. Love him or hate him, the guy built more like a jockey than a tennis player spent most of the year ill, but still managed to win Wimbledon, and ended the year as number one. Special mentions to Michael Schumacher, Lance Armstrong, Ian Thorpe, Tim Montgomery and the early favourite for 2003, Serena Williams. The "practice makes perfect" award - To the English cricket team management - "optional training?" You guys must be kidding! The "goose of the year" award - A late run by Mark Bosnich saw the former Chelsea keeper edge out the Canterbury Bulldogs board (NRL). The "magic moment" award - To Lennox Lewis. Finally, somebody knocked some humility into Mike Tyson. The "I must update the rulebook" award - To the Governing body that ran the Gold Coast Indy car race - what a debacle! The "all I want for Christmas is a calculator" award - One each to the Carlton and Canterbury Bulldogs football clubs. The "getting in early" award - To the punter who wanted to back Andre Agassi's son to win Wimbledon before 2025. The "let's get Centrebet" award - To the punters, and there were plenty, who wanted to back the Bulldogs to win the wooden spoon when it became obvious they would lose all their points. The "mind over matter" award - Damien Oliver - who will never forget this year's Melbourne Cup, the event itself, and the "before and after?" The "good sports of the year" award - To the "Barmy Army", the fan club of the English cricket side. These guys have a good time even though their side continues to be humiliated by Australia. You can only wonder what they will be like if England ever wins a game! Maybe in 2003? · The Sydney Roosters will win back to back NRL titles. · Wests Tigers will run last. · More time will be spent scrutinizing clubs, players and managers, than the game itself. · A week will pass without a controversial referee's decision (we can only hope). · Brisbane will make it three in a row when they beat Hawthorn in the Grand Final. · Carlton will run last. · Shane Crawford will win the Brownlow. · Paul Salmon will make a comeback, his eighteenth! · Wayne Carey won't get sledged - much! · New Zealand will beat Australia in the semis, then go on and beat France in the final of the World Cup. · A week will pass without Wendall Sailor being "bagged" by somebody from a rugby background. · The Crusaders will win the Super 12. · Australia will win the World Cup. · Steve Waugh will retire after the Sydney test, and join the list of 75 ex Australian players who make up the Channel 9 commentary team. · Victorian coach David Hookes will walk on water the day after he leads Victoria to victory in the Pura Cup. · Pakistan will win two matches in a row, dumfounding their critics who always find something sinister in a Pakistani loss. · Sacramento will win the NBA title. The Lakers won't make the final, but will still be installed as favourites to win next season. · The Sydney Kings will win the NBL title. Scribes will then have to find a new team to be the brunt of jokes. · There will be a sensation when an NBL side is found to have enough money to breach a salary cap. · Oakland will win the Superbowl, with or without Deion Sanders. · The Superbowl final, including stoppages and entertainment, will create a record when the game takes 2 days to complete. · Anthony Mundine will fight somebody who can lift their hands above waist level, and who is younger than 40. · Mike Tyson will disappear, for good! · They've changed the rules, but Michael Schumacher will win the Driver's Championship again. · Juan Pablo Montoya will finish a race. · There won't be an "orchestrated finish". Well at least no-one will own up to one! · Vinnie Roe will return, be ridden by an Australian jockey, and win the Melbourne Cup by further than Media Puzzle did this year. · Ditto with Grandera in the Cox Plate. · Tiger Woods will win all four Majors (what's the point of saying he will win one or two?). · Colin Montgomerie will smile during a tournament this year. · Sergio Garcia won't! · Coolum Resort will provide a coin at the last hole of the Australian PGA so as to avert a repeat of this year's ridiculous "tie". · Serena Williams will win everything, and in a first, will be included in the men's draw for next year's Australian Open. · Damir Dokic and his little daughter won't change their attitudes, but will change their nationalities several times in 2003. Working through the alphabet by country, they will finish the year as South Koreans. · Somebody who can lift a racquet, apart from Lleyton Hewitt, will say they want to play Davis Cup for their country, and mean it. · Hewitt will win the Australian Open, Ferrero the French, Hewitt Wimbledon, and the diminutive South Australian will also win the US Open. · Serena Williams will win all the women's majors. · Man United will win the Champions League. · Arsenal will win the Premier League. · Mark Bosnich will get a guest role in Neighbours, so as to win back the hearts of the English press. · A week will pass without one single NSL team (Australian Soccer) declaring they are on the brink of financial ruin. Well that's how we saw the year, and a few predictions for 2003. We hope you all had a great Christmas and New Year, and good punting in 2003. Until next week, good punting For further information contact Gerard Daffy at Centrebet on 08 89555800 or on centrebet@centrebet.com
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