Anticipated Huge Wagers for 2014 World Cup
Starting this Thursday, the FIFA World Cup 2014 will kick off with Brazil facing off against Croatia. This is a much-awaited event for soccer, football, and futbol fans globally as they witness a month of intense competition. Simultaneously, this marks the beginning of an enormous global betting spree, as dedicated gamblers and casual fans try their luck, aiming to strike it big during this global showstopper.
Although the United States has traditionally displayed little interest in the World Cup, it has significantly increased in the last two decades. This uptick coincides with the progression of the American team into a dominant force and an international contender. Although the US might have a hard time surviving their group and advancing to the tournament itself, fans, including bettors, haven't let that deter them.
Bets On Champions and Goal Scorers Lead The Way
The Las Vegas Hotel SuperBook (LVH) states that they've received double the bets on the United States winning the World Cup as opposed to any other nation. However, the odds for a surprise USA victory range from 50-1 to 100-1.
While the bets on the United States to clinch the tournament may seem risky, it's worth mentioning that most of these wagers are likely small. Germany (9-2) earns the top spot in terms of total amounts wagered, even though the number of bets is lower. Other contenders like Brazil (5-2), Argentina (9-2), and Spain (6-1) receive more money than the United States does.
The LVH offers more than just placing bets on the overall winner. People can also wager on individual games and choose the winners of specific groups. However, the most anticipated bet is predicting the Golden Boot winner, granting the prize for the tournament's leading goal scorer. Lionel Messi from Argentina snags the favorite spot at 6-1 odds, while Brazil's Neymar and Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo have their supporters, with odds of 10-1 and 12-1, respectively.
Thailand Anticipates Illegal Betting Frenzy
The World Cup's popularity doesn't cease at the United States' border. Southeast Asia, namely Thailand, is gearing up for an intriguing betting frenzy. A recent study projects Thais will spend over 43 billion baht ($1.33 billion) gambling on the World Cup. This is remarkable considering Thailand's strict laws against most forms of gambling, including sports betting. Almost 12% of Thai teenagers plan to bet on matches, despite it being against the law.
To address this, Thai authorities are planning to employ countermeasures, looking to eliminate online gambling platforms, snatch licenses from establishments with betting operations, and clamp down on loan sharks and debt collectors. Regardless, only around 45% of survey respondents think Thailand should legalize sports betting.
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