WSEX Insider Report
This week marks the launch of our WSEX Insider Report, where we roll up the highlights from our recent betting action, giving you a glimpse into the inner workings of the offshore sportsbook.
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Super Bowl XXXIX
The NFL returns to an off-week for the Super Bowl this year, making it the “longest two weeks in sports” for sports journalists and sports bettors alike. But while the journalists try to extract colorful copy from nose tackles, sports bettors have the more entertaining task of analyzing the year’s longest menu of proposition wagers.
In truth, though, the notion that the Super Bowl is a uniquely important betting event is something of a myth, driven by the Las Vegas PR machine and the popularity of the $10 office pool. If you’re a Vegas sportsbook that spends all year hiding from wiseguys and declining $500 wagers, then the Super Bowl really is a huge deal: you actually get to book some bets.
But here offshore, the Super Bowl isn’t a make-or-break event, so much as another day at the office, albeit a hectic one. Last year, for example, WSEX handle on the Super Bowl was only several times larger than the average Monday Night Football game, and represented a modest 3% of our season’s NFL handle. Hardly the climax of the betting year Vegas would have you believe, but it just goes to show how vast the betting interest is offshore throughout the entire NFL season.
Given the large public interest in the Super Bowl, you can always count on the favorite being well-backed, but this year’s action has been notably one-sided. After installing the Patriots as strong 6.5-point favorites, we were hit by a veritable blizzard out of New England, as the Pats faithful stormed in to back their team. Philly may have a reputation as a great sports town, but as far as we can tell, not one of the city’s 1.5 million residents has placed a bet on the low-flying Eagles.
As a result, we’ve reluctantly moved the spread to seven, but even this jump to a key number has done little to stop bettors from piling in on New England. And why should it? The Pats are 15-2 against the spread this year, with one push, and a lot of seemingly easy money has been made investing in Tom Brady and Co., at any number.
Australian Open
Serena Williams (the pretourney favorite at 11-4) netted her seventh grand slam victory, taking the Australian Open title in a typically erratic three-set final against veteran Lindsay Davenport. Those playing the WSEX Live Betting market emerged victorious as well, driving up Serena Williams contracts from $45 to $80 after it became clear that all signs of the mysterious injury she sustained in the first set had vanished.
We’re happy to cede this one to the momentum players, though, as the 2001 women’s final is still fresh in our memories. As some might recall, Martina Hingis found plenty of buyers at $98 as she served out the match against Jennifer Capriati, only to suffer a spectacular mental collapse, expiring at $0 shortly thereafter. Only in the WTA.
Marat Safin (10-1) laid claim to the men’s title after gutting out an unbelievable semifinal against Roger Federer, followed by a somewhat anticlimactic match against a tiring Lleyton Hewitt. This was a result we welcomed, having taking on significant pretournament action at 9-5 from Federer supporters, who apparently believed you can’t overpay for a sure thing.
Bob Hope Chrysler Classic
WSEX Live Betting players experienced another windfall this weekend as well-backed Justin Leonard (50-1) registered one of his trademark come-from-behind victories. The third-round leaders, Joe Ogilvie and Peter Lonard, simply wilted when confronted with the prospect of a PGA Tour victory, and heavy sellers of their contracts bet against their chances of rallying over the back nine.
Selling the contracts of chronic non-winners who find themselves in the lead on Sunday has become a real bloodsport at WSEX, and it makes for gripping entertainment whether you’re trading or not. Our philosophy at the Golf Desk, however, is that for every Joe Ogilvie or Peter Lonard, there’s a Todd Hamilton or Ben Curtis who somehow manages to hang on for victory. So feel free to take us on next week at the TPC at Scottsdale, where we’ll be rooting on “no hopers” like Kirk Triplett and Geoff Ogilvy against Vijay, Phil, and other giants of the game.
<HR>
Keep an eye out for the next edition of the WSEX Insider Report, where we’ll feature a recap of the Super Bowl and the football season as a whole. Feel free to write us with any topics you’d like to see covered, and best of luck in all your action.
Regards, World Sports Exchange
This week marks the launch of our WSEX Insider Report, where we roll up the highlights from our recent betting action, giving you a glimpse into the inner workings of the offshore sportsbook.
<HR>
Super Bowl XXXIX
The NFL returns to an off-week for the Super Bowl this year, making it the “longest two weeks in sports” for sports journalists and sports bettors alike. But while the journalists try to extract colorful copy from nose tackles, sports bettors have the more entertaining task of analyzing the year’s longest menu of proposition wagers.
In truth, though, the notion that the Super Bowl is a uniquely important betting event is something of a myth, driven by the Las Vegas PR machine and the popularity of the $10 office pool. If you’re a Vegas sportsbook that spends all year hiding from wiseguys and declining $500 wagers, then the Super Bowl really is a huge deal: you actually get to book some bets.
But here offshore, the Super Bowl isn’t a make-or-break event, so much as another day at the office, albeit a hectic one. Last year, for example, WSEX handle on the Super Bowl was only several times larger than the average Monday Night Football game, and represented a modest 3% of our season’s NFL handle. Hardly the climax of the betting year Vegas would have you believe, but it just goes to show how vast the betting interest is offshore throughout the entire NFL season.
Given the large public interest in the Super Bowl, you can always count on the favorite being well-backed, but this year’s action has been notably one-sided. After installing the Patriots as strong 6.5-point favorites, we were hit by a veritable blizzard out of New England, as the Pats faithful stormed in to back their team. Philly may have a reputation as a great sports town, but as far as we can tell, not one of the city’s 1.5 million residents has placed a bet on the low-flying Eagles.
As a result, we’ve reluctantly moved the spread to seven, but even this jump to a key number has done little to stop bettors from piling in on New England. And why should it? The Pats are 15-2 against the spread this year, with one push, and a lot of seemingly easy money has been made investing in Tom Brady and Co., at any number.
Australian Open
Serena Williams (the pretourney favorite at 11-4) netted her seventh grand slam victory, taking the Australian Open title in a typically erratic three-set final against veteran Lindsay Davenport. Those playing the WSEX Live Betting market emerged victorious as well, driving up Serena Williams contracts from $45 to $80 after it became clear that all signs of the mysterious injury she sustained in the first set had vanished.
We’re happy to cede this one to the momentum players, though, as the 2001 women’s final is still fresh in our memories. As some might recall, Martina Hingis found plenty of buyers at $98 as she served out the match against Jennifer Capriati, only to suffer a spectacular mental collapse, expiring at $0 shortly thereafter. Only in the WTA.
Marat Safin (10-1) laid claim to the men’s title after gutting out an unbelievable semifinal against Roger Federer, followed by a somewhat anticlimactic match against a tiring Lleyton Hewitt. This was a result we welcomed, having taking on significant pretournament action at 9-5 from Federer supporters, who apparently believed you can’t overpay for a sure thing.
Bob Hope Chrysler Classic
WSEX Live Betting players experienced another windfall this weekend as well-backed Justin Leonard (50-1) registered one of his trademark come-from-behind victories. The third-round leaders, Joe Ogilvie and Peter Lonard, simply wilted when confronted with the prospect of a PGA Tour victory, and heavy sellers of their contracts bet against their chances of rallying over the back nine.
Selling the contracts of chronic non-winners who find themselves in the lead on Sunday has become a real bloodsport at WSEX, and it makes for gripping entertainment whether you’re trading or not. Our philosophy at the Golf Desk, however, is that for every Joe Ogilvie or Peter Lonard, there’s a Todd Hamilton or Ben Curtis who somehow manages to hang on for victory. So feel free to take us on next week at the TPC at Scottsdale, where we’ll be rooting on “no hopers” like Kirk Triplett and Geoff Ogilvy against Vijay, Phil, and other giants of the game.
<HR>
Keep an eye out for the next edition of the WSEX Insider Report, where we’ll feature a recap of the Super Bowl and the football season as a whole. Feel free to write us with any topics you’d like to see covered, and best of luck in all your action.
Regards, World Sports Exchange
