Star Wars Episode III, American Idol Causing Buzz Among Bettors
Audiences are not just watching movies like Star Wars Episode III and hit shows like American Idol, now they are betting on them.
Miami Beach, FL (PRWEB) May 18, 2005 -- It is no secret to the folks of Sports911.com that gambling on major entertainment events can be big business. We taught the world this during the days leading up to the Academy Awards where "betting on the Oscar" inquiries at times averaged 10 per minute and sometimes more.
Other events have since caught fire. After a slow start, American Idol betting has really started to catch on big as the contestant pool narrows down. Granted the odds are not nearly as enticing. Vonzell Solomon, for example, was at one time a huge underdog with excellent pay out odds. Carrie Underwood and Bo Bice have always hovered near the favorite status but at an underdog price, usually between +100 and +300.
Currently, the odds at www.BetRoyal.com are set at Carrie Underwood -140, Bo Bice +160 and Vonzell Solomon +800, which is interesting considering there are some who believe Vonzell can win outright. Underwood has risen above the favorite mark, which means individuals must wager $140 to win $100. More people inquire about Carrie Underwood than any other contestant according to Sports911.com trend research, and this has been the case now for several weeks.
"Sports911.com is the most sought after web site for American Idol betting bar none," commented Thomas Jensen, Marketing Director for 911. "We have a pulse on the type of wagering activity that is out there for this show. It's not gangbusters but there is certainly a market for it."
This week everybody is talking about Star Wars Episode III. Bookmakers like PinnacleSports.com and Sportsbook.com have aggressively pushed betting odds on the film's opening gross.
Interestingly enough, the bookmakers often serve as an accurate parameter for outcomes on key entertainment and political events since their information is based on public opinion. The November U.S. election results proved this point as did the UK general elections.
With that said, www.sportsbook.com has posted odds of Over/Under $85.5 million opening weekend gross for Star Wars Episode III. The highest grossing day for the opening weekend: Over/Under $35.25 million.
www.pinnaclesports.com meanwhile features odds on whether Star Wars: Episode III will break "Spider-Man's" three-day opening weekend record of $114.84 million? They have odds of 2/5 for "No" and 11/5 for "yes". The opening odds were 1/8 for "Yes" but 80% of their customers believe this Star Wars installment will beat the record held by Spider-Man.
"There aren't a whole lot of people inquiring about Star Wars betting," Jensen acknowledged. "I think the public in general just wants to see the film and can care less about betting on its weekend gross. Maybe I will be proven wrong."
Bookmakers the likes of Sportsbook.com and Pinnacle, however, understand the value in offering these types of entertainment props. In doing so they corner a whole new market.
"It is going to be hit or miss. Shows that are televised over an extended length of time tend to attract more betting action we've found. Examples include The Amazing Race, Survivor and now American Idol."
Now add "Dancing with the Stars" to that list. Already, Australian bookmaker www.centrebet.com has enjoyed a decent amount of success offering betting odds on this hit television show that is internationally known under the title Strictly Come Dancing". Dancing with the Stars makes its American debut over the summer.
The show will feature six celebrities paired with leading professional dancers to train and then compete in a live television knockout ballroom dancing competition. Each week, America votes for the dancer they best feel has learned to master and execute these difficult dances in front of a live studio audience. Dancing with the Stars" will be produced in America for ABC by BBC Entertainment, a division of BBC Worldwide.
"We anticipate a number of the online sportsbooks to offer betting odds on this television show once they have a better grasp of its likely shelf life," Jensen said. "All indications are that Dancing with the Stars will be a huge hit here in America as well."
Sports911.com is betting on this being the case considering how well the show has performed in other countries.
About Sports911.com
Sports911.com is recognized as the leader in online gambling and sports betting information around the world. As a portal begun in 2000 dedicated exclusively to covering internet gambling, Sports911.com has since expanded into various other arenas that has since led to a tremendous surge in readership over the past year. Sports911.com provides all the latest celebrity betting props and exotic wagering opportunities.
# # #
Bookmark -
Del.icio.us |
Digg |
Furl It |
Spurl |
RawSugar |
Simpy |
Shadows |
Blink It |
My Web
|
Share The News
Submit this press release easily to any of these major bookmarking and social media sites.