The invention of political betting

RON POLLARD, Ladbrokes’ legendary odds-maker, claimed he invented political betting. He said so in his irreverent and entertaining autobiography, ‘Odds and Sods, My Life in the Betting Business’, which was published in 1991. But he’s way out of line. Pollard may have started political betting in the UK in the wake of the Christine Keeler affair when he opened a book on the Tory leadership race in 1963. However, 47 years earlier, in 1916, the Americans wagered the equivalent of $160million in today’s money on the race for the White House contested by Woodrow Wilson and Charles Evans Hughes. Even though he was pretty late on the scene in global terms, Pollard gave Ladbrokes a tremendous boost and acres of... Continue reading...

This entry was posted on Monday, April 6th, 2009
(Posted in: Articles, General, Sterling Brookes)

What Odds On A General Election in 2009?

What odds on a General Election in 2009? Well Ladbrokes go 4/1, with 2010 being favoured at 1/6. Perhaps not surprising David Cameron’s Conservative Party are 8/15 favourites. But could it all change in the next month or so? The UK Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, has been under massive pressure at home for 12 months with the world economy crumbling around his feet, problems with bankrupt bankers, businesses going bust, house repossessions growing as the number of unemployed grows, and now even his own cabinet under daily fire from the British media over MP expenses excesses. Last month the UK leader was taken to task and dressed down in the most spectacular and totally purely British way of pure oratory... Continue reading...

This entry was posted on Monday, April 6th, 2009
(Posted in: Articles, General, JC)

The Greatest Grand National Gambles

Triumph and disaster walk hand in hand over Aintree’s hallowed turf, affecting horses, riders, trainers and, perhaps most of all, punters. For there have been many big gambles on the National that have ended up buried in that well-tended turf. But some have been landed – in style. In the early days of the great race, bets were largely confined to private wagers between wealthy rival owners. One of the first public gambles was when the white-bearded Irishman Joseph Osborne took on the ring with spectacular success in 1850. Osborne owned and trained Abd-El-Kader and backed his horse to complete the National-Lincolnshire Steeplechase double, wagering £150 for a potential win dividend of £10,000, a staggering sum in those far off... Continue reading...

This entry was posted on Sunday, March 29th, 2009
(Posted in: Articles, Betting, Horse Racing Home)

There Is Only One Race – The GRAND NATIONAL!

THERE was the ‘Race of the Century’ when Grundy and Bustino locked horns for the King George and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at Ascot in 1975. And there’s the ‘Race that stops a Nation’ – the Melbourne Cup when the whole of Australia grinds to a halt to watch a handicap, albeit a very valuable one! There was even a two-legged version of the ‘Race of the Century’ when Seb Coe – now Lord Coe – and Steve Ovett – still plain, old Mr Ovett – clashed in the 800 metres final at the 1980 Moscow Olympics. But there is only one race that captures the hearts and minds of virtually the whole world – and that’s the Grand National.... Continue reading...

This entry was posted on Saturday, March 28th, 2009
(Posted in: Articles, General, Sterling Brookes)

The best ideas are the simplest – What odds Betfair?

THEY say the best ideas are always the simplest. So I got to thinking about whether, in another life, I might have invented the internal combustion engine or television or even the light bulb. Not so simple eh? But then I turned my attention to the phenomenal phenomenon known as betting exchanges. Well, here is a one-trick pony if ever I saw one. All you do is match a backer with a layer and if, in the words of the popular quiz game, the price is right, you have a match. It couldn’t be easier – and it’s all based on the stock market idea of matching buyers and sellers that’s been around for what seems like donkey’s years. Since... Continue reading...

This entry was posted on Monday, March 16th, 2009
(Posted in: Articles, Sterling Brookes)

Irish Invasion – Must be the Cheltenham Festival

AS ‘The Voice of Racing’ – Sir Peter O’Sullevan – once said: ‘To end the meeting with a small fortune, you have to start off with a big fortune’. He was, if my memory serves me right, referring to Royal Ascot. But the greatest ever commentator, now well into his eighties and still almost as active as ever, could, just as easily, have been talking about the Cheltenham Festival – the four-day betting bonanza that is now just around the corner. The meeting has become something of an annual pilgrimage for both the English and the Irish, but it is the latter who raise the meeting to a completely different level compared with other festivals and big meetings. The Irish come... Continue reading...

This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 18th, 2009
(Posted in: Articles, General, Sterling Brookes)

Congressman Ackerman rips into SEC – Ghostbuster!

They breed them tough in New York, straight talking, no dilly dallying. When the world financial markets are in turmoil and bankers feel saying ‘sorry’ is all they have to do, who should you call to get to the bottom of it all? Ghostbusters? No. Congressman Ackerman. At last week’s Capital Hill hearings over the dealings by the SEC of the Barry Madoff’s ponzi scheme he ripped into them and the combined looks on their admonished faces said it all. Despite whistle blower, Harry Markopolos leaking information to the SEC about the scheme 10 years ago, the SEC never conducted an investigation. Oh how we should fly him over to question Gordon Brown and Tony Blair, the Bankers and civil... Continue reading...

This entry was posted on Sunday, February 15th, 2009
(Posted in: Articles, General, JC)

Mug Punter Club – Part 2 – How to avoid the Club online

I BET you thought I overlooked online casinos. No way!   I needed to show how easy it was to slip into the Mug Punter Club in offline gambling, despite the safety net of regulation developed over centuries, the online punter is more vulnerable because he may be out on his own, wandering through a vast desert with enough quick sand patches not yet signposted. No Jockey Club to keep rogue operators in check and no Gambling Commission ensuring fair play. It is also easier to lose control charging a credit card than dealing with hard money transactions. So, no shortage of pitfalls to gobble a punter’s ‘betting bank’ electronically and speedily; I won’t try to get into how many national banks... Continue reading...

This entry was posted on Thursday, February 5th, 2009
(Posted in: Articles, General, Sterling Brookes)

Fancy a bath with a football legend?

Fancy a bath with a football legend? Not a question one’s asked every day, but that’s just what is on offer for a lucky (!) person who can correctly name which of these football heroes will get the most votes in the PassMeTheSoap.com TV commercial competition by online bookmaker and online casino Paddy Power . Terry, Viv, Brucie, Neville, Peter and Carlton. Vote for your hero to appear in Paddy Power’s TV ad. Click on one of the pictures of the six heroes and enter your email address, but be quick it ends midnight on the 9th February. This competition is open to over 18s only. The ad we plan on making involves the footballer being in a bath, so eh,... Continue reading...

This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 4th, 2009
(Posted in: Articles, General, JC)

Not wanting to join the Mug Punter Club?

IF YOU’RE a mug punter you probably don’t realise it. So I thought I’d investigate exactly what turns normal people into mugs. Well, in my view, a mug is the type of punter who goes into the betting shop minutes before the first race with his pockets stuffed with notes and leaves several hours later with his pockets full of worthless betting slips. Or the guy who ventures into the casino and starts with a decent stack of chips and departs some time later with nothing to show for his efforts. In both scenarios the mug has no preconceived battle plan; no idea how he’s going to use his money; no clue how he is going to go about his... Continue reading...

This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 4th, 2009
(Posted in: Articles, General, Sterling Brookes)