BOOKIES SPONSOR PRO SOCCER TEAMS 09/11/03 - Stephen Nover
Can you picture Bill Parcells making a public endorsement to bet at Pinnacle, World Sports Exchange, Rio International or any other Internet sports book?
Yeah when pigs fly, there's peace in the Middle East and the Chicago Bears win a game.
In the United Kingdom, though, it's not a big deal for famous coaches and players to promote on-line sports books. Sir Bobby Robson, the manager of Newcastle United and former manager of the English National Team, does promos for a British sports book called bet365.
"Betting has wide spread acceptance over here in the United Kingdom," said John Coates, CEO for bet365. "It's accepted as a very ordinary form of entertainment."
Not so in America. Osama bin Laden has a better chance of being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize than a famous American coach has of ever being seen in a pro-sports betting ad.
However, betting is so ingrained in the British way of life that some sports books are actually partners with many of the English soccer teams.
Ladbrokes, the world's largest bookmaking company, is the official sponsor of the Manchester United soccer team. Bet365 does a Web site for the English Nationwide League, which is one step below the Premier League. All together, bet365 has exclusive betting and gaming rights to 80 of the 92 professional soccer clubs in the UK.
Bet365 and the soccer club share in the revenue from bets taken from the Web site, which offers wagering locations.
"We're very up front that the club benefits financially from those customers betting with our site," Coates said.
This concept and arrangement isn't a big deal in Great Britain, but it’s absolutely mind-boggling for an American. Could you imagine NFL.com sharing a Web site with a major sports book and both profiting from winning wagers?
"It's (gambling) an accepted social past time here," Coates said. "Many have a bet before they go to a soccer match. Why shouldn't they have a bet beforehand if it adds value to their entertainment experience?
"So there's no stigma for a betting company to be involved in professional sports."
Go to some British soccer stadiums and you'll see betting booths right next to concession stands. Get a hot dog, make a bet.
Unlike America's out-of-touch politicians, the British government has long recognized gambling. So the government regulates and taxes bookmakers there. This pragmatism extends to the bookmakers and teams cooperating with each other to split gambling proceeds, knowing how fans love to wager.
Bet365 also has interactive wagering, where you can bet on the game while it's in progress. Not only does bet365 have this on soccer, tennis and golf, but now American football.
According to Coates, the 13 different types of interactive 'props' include the player to score the next touchdown, what the next score will be and even what the next play will be.
"Why should it stop when the game kicks off?" Coates asked about betting on a football game. "Why shouldn't we allow someone to have a betting experience throughout the game? Your opinion can change as you watch the game and you can hedge out positions. You can do all sort of things."
While most of bet365's action occurs prior to the game, Coates says the company has a policy of offering interactive football wagering on any live feed it can get.
America seems to be getting farther and farther behind the times when it comes to sports wagering.
Can you picture Bill Parcells making a public endorsement to bet at Pinnacle, World Sports Exchange, Rio International or any other Internet sports book?
Yeah when pigs fly, there's peace in the Middle East and the Chicago Bears win a game.
In the United Kingdom, though, it's not a big deal for famous coaches and players to promote on-line sports books. Sir Bobby Robson, the manager of Newcastle United and former manager of the English National Team, does promos for a British sports book called bet365.
"Betting has wide spread acceptance over here in the United Kingdom," said John Coates, CEO for bet365. "It's accepted as a very ordinary form of entertainment."
Not so in America. Osama bin Laden has a better chance of being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize than a famous American coach has of ever being seen in a pro-sports betting ad.
However, betting is so ingrained in the British way of life that some sports books are actually partners with many of the English soccer teams.
Ladbrokes, the world's largest bookmaking company, is the official sponsor of the Manchester United soccer team. Bet365 does a Web site for the English Nationwide League, which is one step below the Premier League. All together, bet365 has exclusive betting and gaming rights to 80 of the 92 professional soccer clubs in the UK.
Bet365 and the soccer club share in the revenue from bets taken from the Web site, which offers wagering locations.
"We're very up front that the club benefits financially from those customers betting with our site," Coates said.
This concept and arrangement isn't a big deal in Great Britain, but it’s absolutely mind-boggling for an American. Could you imagine NFL.com sharing a Web site with a major sports book and both profiting from winning wagers?
"It's (gambling) an accepted social past time here," Coates said. "Many have a bet before they go to a soccer match. Why shouldn't they have a bet beforehand if it adds value to their entertainment experience?
"So there's no stigma for a betting company to be involved in professional sports."
Go to some British soccer stadiums and you'll see betting booths right next to concession stands. Get a hot dog, make a bet.
Unlike America's out-of-touch politicians, the British government has long recognized gambling. So the government regulates and taxes bookmakers there. This pragmatism extends to the bookmakers and teams cooperating with each other to split gambling proceeds, knowing how fans love to wager.
Bet365 also has interactive wagering, where you can bet on the game while it's in progress. Not only does bet365 have this on soccer, tennis and golf, but now American football.
According to Coates, the 13 different types of interactive 'props' include the player to score the next touchdown, what the next score will be and even what the next play will be.
"Why should it stop when the game kicks off?" Coates asked about betting on a football game. "Why shouldn't we allow someone to have a betting experience throughout the game? Your opinion can change as you watch the game and you can hedge out positions. You can do all sort of things."
While most of bet365's action occurs prior to the game, Coates says the company has a policy of offering interactive football wagering on any live feed it can get.
America seems to be getting farther and farther behind the times when it comes to sports wagering.
