Media For Good: June 2010

Sunday, June 13, 2010

World Cup Soccer Betting Aussie Style, by Greg Tingle - 12th June 2010

World Cup fever in in full swing, and while the Aussie's don't stand a chance in hell of getting to the finals, the fans remain some of the most passionate, with betting exchanges showing fans money going where their mouth is. Media Man and Gambling911 blow the whistle on the situation...

Betting and sports experts in the know advise Australians betting on the World Cup will reach roughly $300 million.

Betfair, Centrebet and Tabcorp are understood to be getting the lions share of bets on the cup by Aussies, while BetUS, Gamebookers and BetEzy get scraps in comparison.

Tabcorp MD Craig Nugent shares his thoughts on this year's World Cup.

For the uninitiated Tabcorp is Australia's biggest gambling company. The betting outfit and casino owner - operator expects to handle about 50% of the bets made during the World Cup, but other insiders say Tabcorp may be bluffing, and the real figure is closer to 30%.

Numerous Aussie pubs, clubs and TAB's are unsurprisingly extending trading hours to satisfy demand to watch the footy games that run between 9.30 p.m. and 4.30 a.m down under in Aussie Land.

Aussies gamble about $17 billion each year, which works out $1,123 per capita, according to the Queensland government's Office of Economic and Statistical Research.

World Cup betting is cutting into the prior dominance of sports betting on the NRL and AFL.

Tabcorp is understood to have commenced an application for Apple iPhones aka smartphone to place bets. Gambling911 has previously warned punters to be careful placing bets on smartphones as on occasion data charges are known to go through the roof, with one MP's son raking up a $10,000 bill!

Tabcorp shares rose 1.5% to $6.65 at the close of trading. The stock has fallen 4.3% this year compared with a 7.5% drop in the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index.

The firm owns 4 casinos, Star City being the most famous, and operates roughly 2,500 betting shops down under. A Tab leak reckons they will look after 4 million bets on the 64 World Cup, and that will come in from approximately 400,000 happy punters.

The Australian Socceroos will play their first game of the tournament on June 13, Sydney time, against the Germans.

If the Socceroos get to the 2nd round and face England, betting history will be made says most experts.

The Late News...

Soccer Nutter Lives In Soccer Ball Bubble Outside Crown Casino

Australia's Adam Santarossa aka "Man In The Ball" living and breathing World Cup Soccer fever, living in a giant ball outside crown for the next month.

The punter one a comp via the Aussie edition of soccer mag Four Four Two.

He's won a $10,000 prize, including $3000 cold hard cash.

Santarossa only gets to leave the ball for an hour a day to have a shower and have a piss and a #2, and is fully expected to post daily blogs and video diaries to the 'manintheball' Facebook page. If he doesn't, serious questions will be raised on the up and coming sports journo. Sant mate, we trust this report will give you more fodder to blog you soccer nut. Next thing you will want to be a special blogger for Virgin Games 'Big Brother' or PartyGaming's Safari Soccer game or something. Ok mate, that's your 5 minutes of fame for the moment.

More Late News!...

Supermodel Super Freak Naomi Campbell Crown Casino Lift Sage Court Told...

Campbell went rabid when she was forced to share a lift with members of the public in Australia. Oh you poor thing... I think I've got an *itch.

The 1999 tit tat outburst came to light again during court in the United States this past week.

The Camp One then went up to her room and wouldn't come back down for a fashion show.

After being told of Campbell's no-show the 600 audience ended up booing her. That's tit for tat. Hope that *itch doesn't come back.

Punters, stay tuned to Gambling911 for more World Cup reports, and by the way, kudos to SBS TV for outstanding coverage of the World Cup broadcast down under to Australia.

Bet with your head, not over it, and have fun.

*Greg Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911

*Media Man http://www.mediamanint.com is primarily a media, publicity and internet portal development company. Gaming including sports betting is just one of a bakers dozen of sectors they cover.

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Thursday, June 10, 2010

Australian Sports: Melbourne Catches Tiger Woods By The Tail, by Greg Tingle - 10th June 2010

Tiger Woods, champion golf player and champion club, casino and woman player, is coming back to Melbourne for this year’s Australian Masters. Tiger's form may be down on the golf course and with the ladies, but the Aussie Victorian government have fallen head over heels for the Tiger - Meister. Victorian taxpayers will e covering part of his appearance fee, but won't know how much they’re paying for the privilege, as its a secret. James Packer owned Crown Casino is understood to be in the running to provide the den - accommodation and ("world of") entertainment for the Tiger. Media Man and Gambling911 take the club to Team Tiger with this special report...

Tiger Mania will be running wild "down under", pun intended. Victorian Tourism Minister Holding said revealing the figure would give interstate governments and other locations the chance to match or exceed the bid and lure the star from Victoria.

Going on radio (3AW), the tourism minister said "Tiger’s fee won’t be made public. We work very hard to secure these events and we don’t want to bid the price up by disclosing the exact amounts."

Gambling911 and Media Man management understands Tiger commands a $3 million appearance fee. It was widely reported the Victorian government paid $1.5 million of the golfer’s fee last year, despite Mr Holding saying today the exact amount would not be made public.

The tournament prize money last year was a moderate $270,000.

He said the expense was "infinitesimal" compared to the economic benefit which flowed the Woods’ appearance, with audited figures showing his performance at last year’s Australian Masters earned the state $34 million, exceeding forecasts by more $15 million.

Crown Casino is understood to have pocked about 10 million from Tiger's fun and games trip down under last year. A swag of golf nut tourists who also enjoyed a punt at Packer's casino were significantly responsible for the windfall.

The Aussie Tourism Minister continues re Tiger's appearance fee "That's more than repays the modest investment," said Holding.

Holding also advised the money paid to Woods is a better investment than the $50 million Victorian taxpayers contribute to the Formula One Grand Prix, and that's including the Mark Webber - Red Bull Racing into the equations, not to mention Sir Richard Branson and his Virgin Racing.

Woody, still holds the title of world’s #1 golfer despite five months out of the game following his high profile sex scandal. Tiger is to join Sergio Garcia of Spain, Camilo Villegas of Colombia and Australia’s Geoff Ogilvy for the tournament at The Victoria Golf Club from 11th-14th November.

"I am pleased to be able to return to Melbourne to defend the JBWere Masters," Woods advised via his official website last night.

"The Australian galleries made last year’s event a great experience for all the players and I look forward to playing at The Victoria Golf Club in November".

Woods did enjoy a strong crown and management reception when he jetted in for last year’s Australian Masters at Kingston Heath, with more than 100,000 fans attending the four-day, sold-out event.

While he was lapped up (pun intended) by fans, fellows golfers and Premier John Brumby during his virgin visit, it was a mixed experience for the 34-year-old Tiger, as "down under" in Melbourne was also where his troubles began.

When Woody returned to the US reports emerged of a rendezvous in Melbourne with New York nightclub hostess Rachel Uchitel, understood to have occurred at Packer's Crown Casino chain.

The revelation led to a string of women coming forward with claims of sexual relationships with the 14-time major winner and the eventual breakdown of his marriage.

Media Man team members, bookies and punters have been recently overheard discussing if Tiger is able to pull off a "hole in one" down in Melbourne, or a "hole in 2, 3, 4 or more".

Does Tiger still have what it takes to execute stunning "holes in one" or even "birdies".

Whatever the case, Melbourne get ready, Tiger Mania is set to kick into full swing when he comes back "down under".

Crown Casino is understood to be super keen to look after Tiger's digs for the trip. The casino's security and service is world class, something Woods and Hollywood power couple, Tom Cruise (Top Gun, Mission: Impossible) and Katie Holmes (Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark) can vouch for. Virgin's Richard Branson is also understood to be a big Packer and Crown fan, spotted with 'Our James' last season, and all of the above share a strong passion for the entertainment, sports and tourism industry.

Media Man and Gambling911 management and insiders are expecting somewhat of a feeding frenzy.

Crown Limited (CWN) share price: 7.960