By Joffa - 2 Jun 2014 6:22 PM
Punters show little faith in Socceroos
Monday, June 02, 2014 - 2:10 PM
Source: AAP
Author: Trevor Chappell
Patriotism has no place in soccer - in Australia, anyway.
Aussie punters think the Socceroos have almost no chance of success at the World Cup in Brazil, which starts on June 12.
Are punters betting against Australia?
"Unfortunately, they are," says sportsbet.com.au public relations manager Shaun Anderson.
"Only 260 people have backed the Aussies to win, with each bet only averaging out to $3 per bet.
"It's the same in our pool matches."
Mr Anderson said Aussie punters have placed more than twice as much money backing Chile to beat Australia, and four times as much on Spain to win against the Socceroos.
But surprisingly, the money on the Australia-Netherlands match is even, despite Australia being rank outsiders.
Punters don't even think Australia will score a goal in Brazil - 99 per cent of all money bet on this market is on Australia remaining goalless.
Brazil is the best backed team, with more money on them than for every other team put together.
Mr Anderson said the World Cup will be the biggest event for wagering worldwide in 2014.
Australians are expected to lay out at least twice as much as they did on the 2010 World Cup.
But as much as locals love to punt, betting on soccer is much bigger in Asia and Europe.
Australian wagering giant Tabcorp expects to turn over $120 million on the 2014 World Cup.
"The volume of World Cup betting with Tabcorp is expected to be about as big as an entire AFL home-and-away season," says Tabcorp chief operating officer of wagering, Craig Nugent.
Tabcorp expects about 30 per cent of bets will be made online or through hand-held devices - but most punters will still place their bets at TAB outlets, hotels and clubs.
The biggest bet placed so far is a $20,000 wager on Brazil to win the Cup, at odds of $3.30.
In contrast, the biggest bet on Australia is $200, at odds of $301.
Big bets are also being taken on Argentina's Lionel Messi to be the tournament's top goalscorer, and for Brazil to play Argentina in the final.
All 32 countries have had at least one bet placed on them, with Honduras and Iran the biggest outsiders, at odds of $1501.
http://www.sportsfan.com.au/punters-show-little-faith-in-socceroos/tabid/91/newsid/133239/default.aspx
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By Axelv - 8 Jun 2014 9:28 AM
Heavily putting money on the Netherlands now to beat Australia after reading this article.
Edited by axelv: 8/6/2014 09:30:07 AM
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