The time has come! The World Series of Poker is here! I used to compare the first day of the WSOP to Christmas morning; that’s how amped up I was for the festivities.
I didn’t leave out any milk and cookies, but I did lay out an outfit for the following day’s activities. All that planning, all that studying, all those sleepless nights. It was all for this exact moment.
Now it’s all about showing up to the Rio, putting in the work, and of course, hoping to get a little lucky and win the flips when it matters most. I’m not here to talk about strategy; I know the majority of you are already feeling confident in your games.
I’m simply here to introduce what’s on tap for the next 7 weeks. As the series progresses, I’ll be posting more blogs that share tips and advice on how to make your experience as seamless and easy as possible.
I want to help break down the walls for those of you that may feel a bit overwhelmed by the absolute chaos that takes place in the hallways at the Rio.
For now, allow me to just start with the basics. Some of you might be arriving this weekend in time for the Colossus, and others might just be rolling into town for the Main Event in early July.
Either way, it’s nice to know what to expect before you sit down and get dealt any cards.
Even those of you who are WSOP veterans, there are some changes this year that you should be aware of. I’ll concentrate the next few sections on revealing the biggest variations in this year’s schedule from years past. I want to open your eyes to the endless opportunities that await.
That life-changing score you’ve been yearning for might just be around the corner!
The 2018 WSOP schedule is offering more bracelet opportunities than ever before, with 78 pieces of jewelry up for grabs in all.
From the $565 Casino Employees No-Limit Hold’em event starting today to the million-dollar One Drop event on July 15th, you have more than enough time to hit that big score you’ve been looking for.
For crying out loud, there is a $100,000 buy-in event starting Friday at 3:00 pm and a $365 buy-in (The GIANT) starting 4 hours later. I mentioned the Casino Employees event as the opener, but those of you who don’t work at a casino, racetrack, or poker room will have to wait until event #2 to get your party started.
I’m talking about a brand-new event on the docket: the $10k NL Super Turbo Bounty.
Do you like ultra-fast structures? Do you have an extra $10,000 lying around? Well, I told you the WSOP had some new events on this year’s schedule, and that is evident right from the get-go with this beauty of a tournament.
Believe it or not, many of the ladies and gentlemen that can actually afford to play these large ($10,000+) buy-in tournaments prefer a more rapid structure.
Do you really think a wealthy businessman or CEO has 4 or 5 days to sit around a poker table exchanging stares with some 20-something who plays a GTO strategy?
I can tell you the answer is no, and it’s the reason why Jack Effel (WSOP Tournament Director) and his staff implemented an event like this right away on day 1.
Most $10k buy-ins have a slow-paced structure that drags out for 4 or more days. The WSOP Main Event starts on July 2nd and won’t even reach a final table until sometime in the wee hours of the morning on July 12th.
The way this event works is that every time you knock a player out, you receive their “bounty,” which is worth $3,000 in real money.
For example, let’s say you get knocked out of the tournament before the money bubble reaches, but you had knocked out 2 opponents previous to busting. Despite not cashing, you would still walk away with $6,000, earning 60% of the original buy-in back. Pretty cool huh?
Event #2 will start at 3:00 pm today and will play down until a winner is crowned. That’s right – by tomorrow morning, someone will have already won a bracelet and the serious wad of cash that’s going to come with it.
I think adding this event and positioning it on day 1 was a great idea and a great sales tactic. The World Series of Poker wants to attract as many people as possible, and they want them here and playing as long as their wallets and minds can handle the inevitable swings.
Showing the poker community that they care about players of all shapes and sizes during the first week of the festival is something that should be applauded.
Whether you will be playing the $10k Super Turbo Bounty or you are just taking your shot at the Colossus (event #7 $565 buy-in), the felt tables are there for the taking.
Those that are skipping the $10,000 Super Turbo Bounty might be waiting for event #3, the $3k NL shootout. If you aren’t familiar with what a “shootout tournament” is or need more details, here you go. Last year, this tournament took 3 days to complete, and Upeshka De Silva took home the grand prize of a shade under $230k.
Later in the day is the start of the fourth event on the WSOP summer schedule, the $1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better.
The mixed games aren’t nearly as popular as the No-Limit Hold’em events, but this event attracted 905 players last year and boasted a prize pool of over $1.2 million.
Now, I know the official WSOP schedule starts today, but Friday marks the start of the first weekend at the WSOP. Saturday afternoon could be the busiest day of the entire summer in terms of actual foot traffic on the property.
I’m not talking about the poker fans that will be looking for autographs from their favorite personalities at day 2 of event #5, the $100,000 High Roller event.
I’m not even talking about the plethora of men and women that will be scurrying down the hallways looking for some cash game action after busting out of the first flight of the Giant (event #6).
I’m talking about the start of the Colossus. The first flight of event #7 is slated to kick off at 10:00 am on June 2nd, with the second flight “shuffle up and dealing” at 7:00 pm. If you can’t make it, all is not lost.
The following day is essentially a copycat, with flights C and D starting at the same times as the previous day. All players are allowed one entry PER FLIGHT. Allow me to reiterate because I know many of you are wondering and will be asking the question.
Essentially, you can bust out of the Colossus three times and still end up winning the tournament. Listen, if folks are going to come all the way to Las Vegas for a big poker tournament, at least give them a few opportunities to cash.
Despite the purists being unhappy with these “re-entry formats,” I can certainly understand why the WSOP does this. They try and keep all players in mind, not just the hardcore professionals.
Last year, the Colossus had more than 18,000 entries, which was actually down from the 21,613 that showed up for the inaugural Colossus in 2016.
I expect the number to fall right around the 20,000 mark and expect the prize pool to exceed $10 million. They have guaranteed 7 figures to the winner – again, another great selling point.
You tell a bunch of aspiring poker players that they can win a million bucks in a $565 buy-in tournament?
You bet your bottom dollar they’ll come stampeding in in bunches.
If you plan on spending the entire summer in Vegas “chasing the dream,” surely you have studied the schedule and have your spots picked out. Obviously, there are numerous opportunities to hit that 6-figure score outside of the Rio, and these chances are growing.
Between the Venetian, Planet Hollywood, the Wynn, and other Las-Vegas based casinos, there is an abundance of tournaments each and every day until the middle of July. Cash game players need not worry because the action will be going 24/7 for the next month and a half.
The biggest concern might be avoiding the ridiculously long waits that will be typical over the series, especially over the weekends. I’ll be releasing a blog soon that helps you get prepared so that you can attack your summer poker schedule with the utmost efficiency.
I’ll also be talking about the rest of the WSOP schedule in great depth, but I want to quickly just point out one of the glaring changes this year.
In years past, the WSOP Main Event was either the last event on the schedule or the second to last. It’s great in theory, as you always want your flagship event as the culminating tournament. They want as much buildup as possible, and I get that.
This time around, the Main Event is event #65 and starts on July 2nd. The new amendments to the schedule will directly reflect those players who come up short in their quest to be crowned Main Event champ.
Rather than chalking it up as a fun time and heading home, Effel and his tournament operators decided to add 13 more events and allow men and women to continue chasing that elusive big score.
As someone who has played and busted the main event in the past and wished there were more possibilities of winning a bracelet, I think this change is for the better.
Expect this to also boost the crowd support during the final stages of the Main Event, as the poker industry will now be sticking around through the middle of July, not hopping on the first plane in disgust after their Main Event dream comes to a screeching halt.
Are you already here in Vegas, locked and loaded to get this thing started? Poker enthusiasts that are here for opening day are the ones who have been looking forward to this day for months.
Those of you who have had this day circled on your calendars can finally breathe a big sigh of relief.
The 2018 World Series of Poker is officially underway; the proceedings have begun. I’ll be checking back in throughout the series to keep you in the loop on what’s going on and what you need to do to make this summer the most successful one yet!
In the meantime, play solid, play smart, and don’t be afraid to push the chips in the middle!
The post The 2018 WSOP Is Underway – What Can We Expect? appeared first on GamblingSites.com.
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The Kenyan Departmental Committee on Sports, Culture, and Tourism has made a recommendation that a considerable portion of accumulated gambling taxes should be brought back to the local Ministry of Sports to fund various youth programs. The idea unveiled by the above-mentioned House committee is part of the large number of proposals the committee has […]
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One of the most exciting times of the year for every poker enthusiast is upon us and this is the long-anticipated return of the World Series of Poker which is going to witness its 49th edition this year. With as many as 78 official gold bracelet events this is sure to be the highlight of […]
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The soccer World Cup will kick off on June 14th, and many players hope to make an impact. I already shared my thoughts on the key men for each nation, most of whom are established stars with stellar reputations.
One of the cool things about this tournament, though, is that there are often young players who enter stardom during the World Cup. A good example of that was James Rodriguez in 2014. The Colombian fascinated the world with his performance and became the top scorer of the competition.
This earned him a transfer to Real Madrid. Despite a rather tough period there, James still plays at the highest level after joining Bayern Munich this season.
And this is only one example of a star that was born at the World Cup. I’m pretty sure the same will happen in 2018, too.
In this post, I try to predict which young players have the potential to shine during the tournament.
I will start with one of the most obvious picks. Leroy Sane is only 22, but he has already shown how good he is in the Manchester City squad. The boy can dribble, assist, and score goals for fun. And he has done it against some strong opponents, too.
It won’t be easy for Leroy Sane to win a starting spot in Germany’s team, as it is packed with talent. However, the young winger certainly has the potential to become one of the stars of the World Cup.
Another reason for that is that his country is among the strongest teams in the competition. Playing alongside the likes of Toni Kroos and Mesut Ozil will help any young player, so Sane will have enough help.
Timo Werner is another young German who has already impressed at the international stage. He was given the chance in the Confederations Cup in 2017 and repaid his coach by scoring three times and assisting twice.
Germany has been missing a striker that is on the same level as the other attacking positions in the team, and Werner might be the answer. He’s a natural finisher that has already scored 7 goals in 12 starts from Germany.
The 2018 World Cup could well be the tournament where Werner underlines his importance to the team even further.
The right back of Liverpool, Trent Alexander-Arnold is having the time of his life. The youngster managed to make the position his own at club level and is preparing to face Real Madrid in the Champions League final. If he starts this game, he will become the youngest player in Liverpool’s history to start a European final.
He also won a spot in the England squad for the World Cup. I don’t think even he believed that such a rapid rise could happen this season, but he’s certainly deserved the opportunity.
The English manager, Gareth Southgate, has indicated multiple times that he will count on young players, and the shape of each member of the squad is what matters the most. If he backs up his words, Alexander-Arnold should be in the starting lineup.
The only problem is that it’s hard to make an impact from the right back, and the current English generation is not that good. Still, Trent Alexander-Arnold definitely has the potential to shine at the World Cup.
Despite some good moments in Manchester City, Kelechi Iheanacho was sold to Leicester, where he is not that efficient. A lot of people believe that he won’t live up to his talent because of that, but I beg to differ.
Playing for the Foxes is hard, as they don’t create many chances, and the guy simply has a different playstyle. Imagine switching from the likes of De Bruyne and David Silva around you to Leicester – no disrespect. It would take anyone some time to adapt, especially at the tender age of 20.
Despite only playing only 14 times, Iheanacho already has 8 goals for his country. The forward could be lethal if the rest of his team can provide him with the opportunities.
The big issue is that Nigeria is in one of the toughest groups of the World Cup. The Super Eagles will face Argentina, Croatia, and Iceland, all of which are challenging opponents.
Iheanacho could still show his talent, though, and I expect him to lead Nigeria to at least an honorable performance in the tournament.
It would be hard to create a list of promising young players and leave Gabriel Jesus out. The Brazilian forward has scored 20 goals for Manchester City this season and also has 9 in 15 games for his national team.
Many believe Jesus is the next big thing, and they certainly have a point. It would be hard to find another player with such flair. However, the youngster is also remarkably efficient.
Unlike many South American players who flatter to deceive, Gabriel Jesus is a lethal goal scorer who is not afraid to put his foot where it might hurt, too.
It’s a set of skills that makes him one of the best young players in the world, and this tournament is a chance for Jesus to prove that beyond any doubt.
Davinson Sanchez will turn 22 just 2 days before the World Cup starts. The young defender joined Tottenham last season and already has 40 games for the club.
He has earned the trust of Mauricio Pochettino with a bunch of solid performances and has helped Tottenham concede only 28 times in the EPL. This was the second-best defensive record in the league last year, so Sanchez has clearly been doing something right.
You won’t see many young players excel in defensive positions because experience is crucial. Sanchez is one of the few exception, though, and he could certainly help Colombia go far in the World Cup.
I can’t help but admit that I love Marcus Rashford and see tons of potential in him. The young lion is technically gifted, bold, and always gives his best.
Unfortunately, his current club manager, Jose Mourinho, is not the best at developing young talent. Just see how he treated Mo Salah and Kevin De Bruyne in the past.
He didn’t give those players much of a chance when they were under his management, but they have both subsequently become genuinely world-class players.
Despite not playing regularly, Rashford still has a place in the England squad. I believe he will get chances to play, too. Many people expect skipper Harry Kane to be the country’s biggest threat, but I can easily see Rashford stealing the show in Russia.
It’s time to address the elephant in the room and talk about Kylian Mbappe. I’ve honestly rarely seen such raw potential as what’s been shown by the Frenchman in his breakthrough season for Monaco. His speed, his dribbles, and the ability to finish at will made him an instant star.
PSG won the war over his signature last summer, and this is where the striker player is right now. His first season for the club was hardly as good as expected, but Mbappe has still shown his class at times.
In fact, the club president stated he won’t be sold for even a billion euro.
France is stacked with a lot of attacking talent, but Mbappe should be given some chances. Considering how strong the country’s squad is, it would be no surprise to see them go all the way, and Mbappe could contribute a lot.
I’m sure a lot of people will be disappointed that I didn’t include other players. There are certainly more youngsters that have the potential to impress in Russia, but I decided to focus on the ones who are expected to play for their countries.
For example, Barcelona’s Ousmane Dembele is an exceptional talent, but can he get any minutes for France? He won’t be able to shine if he’s not given the opportunity, and the same applies for any young player.
In the end, you never know in soccer. I could be completely wrong about the players I’ve discussed.
I’m pretty sure that they’ll have opportunities, though, and they all have what it takes to make an impact. Will they fulfill their potential? We’ll know soon enough!
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One of the biggest dreams of most soccer players is to represent their country in the World Cup. This is by far the most important tournament in the entire sport.
In reality, there are hardly any surprises when it comes to the winner of the competition. Most of the time, one of the best teams ends up lifting the trophy. I already shared my thoughts on the favorites for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, and there’s a very good chance that this year’s winner will come from that group of teams.
Link to “Most Likely Winners of the FIFA World Cup blog post” (not currently published but will be when this is)
That doesn’t mean the rest don’t have anything to play for. Quite the contrary. Reaching the knockout stages and making a deep run is a remarkable achievement and more than enough to make the players legends in some countries.
A lot of teams will hope for that, and I believe some have the potential to surprise at the World Cup. Of course, this creates some nice betting opportunities as well.
Let’s go ahead and take a look at the teams that can upset the odds.
Colombia was one of the most pleasant surprises of the 2014 World Cup. The team played great and managed to reach the quarterfinals of the competition, where it lost against the hosts, Brazil, in a tough match.
On top of that, James Rodriguez was one of the stars of the tournament and became the top scorer.
4 years later, Colombia is once again prepared to have a good World Cup and make the fans proud. The country is in a group with Poland, Senegal, and Japan. While none of these teams is a walkover, they are all beatable. In fact, Colombia is considered the favorite to win their group.
At the back, they have a hot prospect in Davinson Sanchez, who had a great season with Tottenham, and up front…well, you must be living under a rock if you don’t know who James Rodriguez and Radamel Falcao are.
It’s safe to say that Colombia has a lot of potential and should get out of the group by winning it. If the country does that, it will face the second-placed team in group G.
This is most likely England, according to the bookies. Since the other nations in their group are Belgium, Panama, and Tunisia, this looks like a fair assessment.
So, Colombia will probably face England. Another possible option is that the country faces Belgium if one of two nations is second in its respective group.
I believe Colombia is much better than England, as the European country has failed to impress in World Cups ever since winning the tournament in 1966.
Even if Colombia faces Belgium, the team still has a decent chance to go through. The main reason is the inconsistent performance of the Belgian squad that struggled at the Euro 2016 despite being labeled as one of the favorites.
This is why I see two decent betting options that contain some value. For a start, Colombia to win its group is priced around 2.40.
The second one would be for the South Americans to reach the quarterfinals, and the odds are close to 3.00.
Pretty much every European team is considered dangerous at World Cups, and Croatia is not an exception. Some of the players of the country can be considered world-class, most notably Luka Modric and Mario Mandzukic.
The whole team is full of guys that are part of the top European leagues, as you will see the likes of Dejan Lovren, Danijel Subasic, Ivan Rakitic, Ivan Perisic, and a couple of other talented players who have experience at a high level.
Winning the thing is probably out of their reach, but Croatia will be certainly a team many others would prefer to avoid.
Croatia is in group D and will face Argentina, Iceland, and Nigeria. In my opinion, this is the toughest one in the World Cup. At a first glance, the South Americans are the favorites, but each of the countries has its chances.
In fact, I believe this will help Croatia. The Balkan team is consistent and could actually win the group. Argentina is the one to watch, but the nation has been inconsistent in the qualifications for the World Cup and struggles to find the right balance.
I expect them to slip, and the odds for Croatia winning the group are too good to miss. You can find prices above 3.20, which is definitely worth a shot.
I might raise a few eyebrows here, but I actually think a lot of people are underestimating Peru. The country finished 5th in the qualifications leading to the World Cup and had to beat New Zealand in a playoff.
However, Peru was ahead of current Copa America champions Chile in the final standings, as well as only a point behind Colombia and two behind Argentina. An impressive performance for a team that doesn’t have the star players some of its South American rivals possess in their ranks.
The main reason Peru reached its first World Cup in 36 years is the hard work and team play. This makes them a resilient side that is tough to beat.
I would like to add that Peru had some luck with their group. At a first glance, they will face France, which is one of the strongest teams of this tournament. The European giant should easily win the group.
The other two teams in this group are Denmark and Australia. Both are vulnerable and don’t really have a much better team than Peru.
The Aussies are mostly relying on some younger players and are hardly that much of a threat. At the same time, Denmark doesn’t offer much, either.
I firmly believe that Peru can make it out of the group, especially if somehow banned forward Paolo Guerrero plays in the World Cup.
At the same time, I can’t see anything but a France win in the standings, so I think I will combine both and go for a bit of an unusual bet.
France to win the group and Peru to finish second can be found at prices in the 4.30-4.40 region. This is way too high, in my opinion, as most bookies overrate Denmark and their chances. This is why I believe the value can be found in a France and Peru one-two qualification.
It’s always tough to predict which team will overachieve and shock everyone at the World Cup. However, I believe these are the most likely candidates for a surprising performance this time around.
None of the wagers I’ve put forward above are what I’d consider “safe.” They are all at least SOMEWHAT realistic, though, and they combine solid value with a reasonable probability of success. I feel comfortable advising you to put some money down on them.
The time to do that is probably now, as I wouldn’t be shocked to see the odds shorten as the tournament gets closer. Below are our top two recommended sites for betting on the FIFA World Cup.
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If you like soccer, you are almost certainly looking forward to the World Cup in Russia this summer. It’s not long to go now, and there are sure to be lots of interesting games for us to enjoy.
There will also be lots of betting opportunities, but are you ready to take advantage of them?
Don’t worry if you’re not, as you can expect to see PLENTY of blog posts relating to this tournament over the coming weeks, most of which will be written by me!
I’ve been preparing for the 2018 FIFA World Cup for months already, and I’m going to help you try to make the most of all the betting opportunities coming up. Hopefully we can make some money together.
In my most recent post, I talked about the top players on each team in this year’s tournament.
Today, I’m going to take an early look at the teams most likely to win. It’s relatively early to definitively state which team I believe will win, but it’s still a good idea to think about this and see if there’s any value up for grabs at this stage.
Brazil is the favorite of most bookmakers according to the current odds. You can find the nation priced around 5.00 in most places. That’s only natural, as the South American giant is the most successful team in the World Cup’s history. Brazil has won the tournament 5 times already and has a couple of lost finals as well.
Their country has always been the home of some of the most gifted players around the globe. 2018 is not an exception, which is the main reason Brazil is among the favorites.
A large part of the current team was involved in the humiliation at home turf 4 years ago when Brazil was beaten 7-1 by the Germans (who subsequently became champions.)
Neymar and Thiago Silva will be eager to put this nightmare behind them, as they were hopelessly watching from the stand because of injuries.
However, the country will have to face history, as it’s rare for a non-European team to win the World Cup when it’s hosted in Europe. It’s only happened once, in fact, all the way back in 1958. Which team? Well, it just so happens that it was Brazil themselves…
The PSG forward is one of the best players in the world right now. He’s the leader of Brazil and always plays with a lot of pride.
If anyone can lift this team, it’s Neymar.
While I believe Brazil is very strong and will go deep, I don’t think it will win the trophy. At least I don’t rate their chances high enough to place a bet on odds of 5.00 or so.
It’s hardly a shocker to see the reigning world champion Germany just behind the Brazilians. The European powerhouse has won the title 4 times, has plenty of other finals, and is always among the favorites.
Even when Germany doesn’t have the individual talent to match some of the other teams, it should never be underestimated. This time around, the country is actually among the best when it comes to natural ability.
The likes of Mesut Ozil, Toni Kroos, Leroy Sane, and many others are simply exceptional.
On top of that, the Germans have loads of experience, one of the best goalkeepers in the world, and always play as a unit. You will struggle to find a weak link in this team. Finally, Coach Joachim Low has been around for a while and knows his players well.
The big question is how tired will Germany be. As many of the other top nations, a large part of the squad is coming after an exhausting season. If they don’t have much left in the tank, this could be a problem in Russia.
The quiet nature of the playmaker makes him look disinterested at times. However, he is the most creative player on the German squad and makes the whole team tick.
If Ozil is on form, opposition teams will find it hard to keep him quiet.
I can easily see Germany as a winner, and they are currently my top contender this summer.
However, at this point, I believe the odds are about right and contain no positive value.
Spain is another team that knows how to win a World Cup. In fact, some of the players in this squad have conquered almost every possible honor in the world of football. Despite the somewhat transitional period after the golden generation, Spain still has a strong team.
Their possession-based style is not that successful anymore, but the nation is adapting. With the help of some younger players like Isco, Spain is mixing it up a lot more.
They are still working hard to take care of the ball, but they are always trying to penetrate the opposition.
It remains to be seen how far the Spaniards can go. Based on their failings in the last two big international tournaments, it’s hard to see them win. At the same time, they have the experience and the quality.
The strong center back is a natural leader who can command the defense and score crucial goals at the same time.
Spain will need him at his best to win the trophy, and he’s more than capable of performing when it matters the most
While Spain has the potential to reach the final stages of the World Cup, I don’t think the team is as well-drilled as some of the other favorites. This is why I will abstain from betting on them at this stage.
The French team was one of the favorites to win EURO 2016 at home turf. The team managed to reach the final, beating Germany in the process, only to lose against Portugal in dramatic fashion. The whole nation was heartbroken, but I believe the squad gained invaluable experience.
A lot of the members of the 2016 team will play this year, too. They will be more mature and confident in their own ability. And, oh boy, they have some talent in there.
It’s not only about flair, though. France has a world-class goalkeeper, a strong defensive unit, and hard-working players such as Olivier Giroud, Blaise Matuidi, and others. If you add the depth of the squad, which is probably second to none, it’s easy to see why France is among the favorites.
However, I have one reason to doubt them. The coach, Didier Deschamps, has made some questionable team selections and decisions in the past. I don’t think he’s the right man for the job.
After a tough season at Manchester United, Pogba will be keen to confirm his status as one of the most exciting players on the planet.
He won’t be able to carry France to victory on his own, but he certainly has the talent to give them a great chance if he’s at his best.
Deschamps is really bothering me, but the French team seems too strong and well-balanced to pass the opportunity.
At odds of 7.50, they represent a solid value in my opinion.
It will be hard for any of the other teams in Russia to win the World Cup, but some shouldn’t be underestimated for various reasons.
Argentina, for example, has loads of talent and Lionel Messi, who is desperate to win a major international trophy. Sure, the team struggled to qualify, but it will be different in Russia, and they did play a final in 2014. Still, the odds of 10.00 or so seem too short for my taste.
Another nation that has a shot is Belgium. The squad has loads of talent in the likes of de Bruyne, Hazard, Lukaku, and many others. However, they struggled during Euro 2016 and have shown the signs of a typical gifted team with no cohesion.
The occasional moments of brilliance can’t make up for the lack of consistency. The odds of 12.00 might be tempting for some, but I can’t see Belgium winning it.
If you are looking for pure value, there are two teams I find solid enough. The reigning European champion Portugal is tough to beat and has Cristiano Ronaldo. The country is priced at 26.00, which is tasty enough.
Another dark horse I rate highly is Croatia. They have world-class players like Luka Modric and Mario Mandzukic, a lot of experience, and a solid squad. You can find odds of 35.00 for Croatia to win it, and this is the perfect opportunity for the more adventurous bettors.
As with all types of betting, picking an outright winner is not about guessing. It’s about probabilities and value. This is why I believe France and Croatia are the best bets right now, with Portugal just behind them.
The likes of Germany and Brazil are certainly capable of winning the World Cup, but the odds of them doing so are too short to be worth it.
Things can change between now and the start of the tournament, of course. I’ll certainly be placing some early wagers for a bit of value, but I’ll be spreading my bankroll far and wide for this tournament.
Keeping checking in over the next few weeks for more World Cup betting advice and picks.
The post The Top 4 Most Likely Winners of the FIFA World Cup 2018 appeared first on GamblingSites.com.
The 91st Scripps National Spelling Bee touches down at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland, on May 29th.
The contest runs through May 31st, hoping to crown the third solo champion in the last five years. Ananya Vinay ended a three-year run of co-champions in 2017 when she correctly spelled the word “marocain.”
I remember the last spelling bee I was in. It was high school, and I was one of the first kids out. It was a stupid word like arugula or something.
It’s one of those words where you totally know what it is, but when you try picturing it inside the abyss of your mind, it comes out as “arugala” or “orangutan” or “gargoyle.”
Needless to say, it can get away from you pretty quickly, and asking your teacher to use it in a sentence doesn’t help. That’s just a stall tactic, and everyone knows it.
I pleaded with my teacher to create a double-elimination bracket, but she said those were reserved only for basketball tournaments.
Challenging her further seemed too exhausting, so I let it slide.
Later, when I was in college, I fell in love with spell check, and as a professional online writer, it’s made me feel like an amazing speller to this day.
In all seriousness, spelling bees seem easy if you’re watching them from afar, but once you get into the weeds, it’s pretty tense, and even the simplest words can suddenly feel foreign.
A litany of wordsmiths will try to combat the pressure to take the crown in a matter of days, but it’s any guess who it will be.
While most of the top entertainment betting sites aren’t producing spelling bee odds as far as the actual winners, bettors can get in on the action with some fun National Spelling Bee prop bets.
BetOnline has been one of the better novelty betting sites, and they currently offer five fun spelling bee wagers. Here’s a look at each bet with their odds and my personal pick.
It’s not always about how long a word is, but often the origin and how it’s relayed to the speller.
Last year’s winning word was just eight letters, while a word as short as “luge” won back in 1984.
The words aren’t even always difficult, either. Last year’s wasn’t necessarily easy, but kids have won with words like “therapy” and the aforementioned “luge.”
Level of difficulty is pretty subjective, but the letter count is not. Unfortunately, it’s fairly unpredictable.
Here’s where BetOnline sets the Over/Under:
There have been a lot of words right around this range, but there have been a slew that are well below the 9.5 Total.
Judging by recent history (three of the last four went Over), I think chasing the upside here makes some sense.
This one could obviously go either way. Like heads or tails, you’ve got a 50% chance, and it honestly might be slightly worse than that if there are co-champions.
More on that in a second, but in the last 20 years of the spelling bee, 13 boys either shared the title or won it outright, and nine girls have shared or gone solo as well.
Boys hold the edge here, but the gap isn’t that wide.
Considering a boy has at least been a co-champion in each of the last four spelling bees, though, I’m fine with bucking the trend and obtaining a little more value on the female side.
Perhaps BetOnline is jumping on the smart kid stereotype here and assuming these kids are all nerds and naturally wear glasses.
As a person who has four eyes by choice and necessity, I take offense.
All jokes aside, this is a fun and fairly valid spelling bee prop bet.
In the past 20 years, 10 of the kids wore glasses. You get a 50% chance here, so even though the value dips a bit, I don’t mind rolling with the “yes” side.
This is just a fun one. Obviously, these are all kids at a fairly young age, which is roughly the time when a lot of parents assess their tooth situation and decide whether or not they need extreme dental care.
The value on “yes” here is through the roof, but only four contestants in the last 20 spelling bees had braces. This is a fun one to watch, and you’d ultimately be cheering on pretty much just the kids with braces.
Maybe this is also just one to avoid. Either way, past history points you to the “no” side of this spelling bee wager.
As stated before, three of the last four spelling bee titles have been shared, and three of them actually were consecutive.
It’s always better to get one stand-alone champ, but that’s not always possible. Besides, BetOnline is daring you to bet there will be another shared title with this alluring price.
The majority of spelling bee competitions are decided with one winner, but these kids are so smart these days that they tend to go back and forth.
The contest has to end eventually, and given the talent level and past co-champion success recently, I don’t mind chasing the upside at +150.
The spelling bee is a fun event to tune into at the end, whether you opt to bet on it or not, but throwing a little cash on some spelling bee prop bets certainly makes it more interesting.
This is not the most obvious betting market to target, but it’s often the more obscure markets that offer the best value.
If you plan on sitting in front of a TV and taking this whole thing in over a few days, it makes sense to boost your entertainment with a shot at winning cash. And we all know how to spell w-i-n-n-i-n-g!
The post 2018 National Spelling Bee: Latest Betting Odds and Predictions appeared first on GamblingSites.com.
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The field for the 2018 Indianapolis 500 is finally set with 33 cars ready to compete for IndyCar lore. One huge name that won’t be part of the grueling 500-mile race, however, is James Hinchcliffe.
The star driver announced this week that after attempts to get into the race, he and his team had accepted defeat.
While the absence of a star talent like Hinchcliffe theoretically drives a dent into the Indy 500’s appeal from an entertainment perspective, this is still a loaded field that should deliver an amazing race.
Does it deliver any amazing betting opportunities, though? Let’s take a look.
Alexander Rossi paces a competitive field that includes four of the last five Indianapolis 500 winners.
Rossi won the event as a rookie back in 2016 and hung tight (7th) again in 2017. He’s among the most talented drivers in the field and is a solid threat to win again, but he’ll have his work cut out for him to get a win after qualifying 32nd and drawing the last row.
Considering a driver has secured a win just three times from 17th position or worse since 1987, bettors may want to consider some alternative flier bets.
They certainly won’t be lacking for options or value. Here are the latest Indy 500 odds over at Bovada:
The fact that Rossi is the clear favorite and bettors still get +800 odds tells you that this thing is pretty wide open.
Winning multiple Indy 500 races is not an easy accomplishment, though, so any backing of Rossi should be met with a little bit of caution.
In fact, just 19 drivers have had the luxury of drinking the milk (or orange juice) at the end of the Indianapolis 500 in its history (about 27%) more than once.
None of this means Rossi shouldn’t be regarded as the top favorite or that he won’t win. At +800, he’s absolutely worth wagering on.
However, much like with any other event with so many potential outcomes (and a competitive field), multiple bets might be the way to go.
Taking a stab at a couple favorites as well as a few sleepers is one strategy to consider.
Right after Rossi, there are a handful of drivers that Vegas and the top IndyCar experts agree are Rossi’s main competition.
In no certain order, they are Helio Castroneves, Ed Carpenter, Josef Newgarden, Scott Dixon, Will Power, and Tony Kanaan.
Carpenter may be the most interesting case of the lot, as he’s stolen the pole position three times in 15 Indy 500 races. He’s never won, but he did finish 5th in 2008, and he absolutely has the talent to deliver on the big stage.
Power is regarded by many as the best talent in the field that has yet to win. He and Carpenter may cancel each other out on the “narrative” side of things, but he’s still a talented driver chasing that elusive Indy 500 title.
You can’t forget about Newgarden or Dixon, either.
Newgarden finished third here in 2016 and is the reigning IndyCar series champion. He’s tried to take down the Indy 500 six times before and has cracked the top 10 twice.
Considering how great he’s been over the past year (four wins), it’s fair to wonder if this is his time to shine.
Dixon could be due for the big win, too.
The 37-year-old New Zealander has a storied career with 94 trips to the podium and one win back in 2008. He’s run well here over the course of his career, with ten top-10 finishes and six runs inside the top five.
If you’re looking for experience, odds, and talent, you could make worse bets.
There is also Castroneves, who is probably the biggest name of the crop. The 43-year-old Brazilian has won the Indy 500 three times, and with a win on May 27th, he’d put himself in elite company.
Truly, he’s already there, but Castroneves nabbing a fourth Indy 500 victory would see him accomplish a feat just three other drivers have ever realized in the event’s history.
Tony Kanaan (+1500) shouldn’t be ignored, either. He’s dancing between being a top contender and a fun sleeper, as he offers nice value but even at 43 years old still looks like a legit threat.
A winner here in 2013, Kanaan has also cracked the top five in each of his last two runs. He’s a viable intermediate play.
There are certainly other elite driving talents with fast cars and good crews that could be regarded as top challengers, but at some point, you need to mark some lines.
You also need to consider odds, and as Vegas boosts the betting value, you always need to consider which Indy 500 sleepers are worth betting on.
It’s not a coincidence that Danica Patrick starts the sleeper list off, as she comes in with very fun odds after finishing inside the fast nine.
That puts Patrick in a very solid spot in this year’s Indianapolis 500, her first race in IndyCar’s most popular event since 2011.
This is the sport that made Patrick famous, as she’s secured a win before and has actually had a lot of success in the Indy 500 as well. Patrick finished 10th here back in 2011 and has finished that high or better in six of her seven runs.
Most won’t be eager to bet on the 36-year-old as she returns to Indianapolis Motor Speedway, but she ran well ahead of the race and has been very successful here in the past (3rd in 2009).
If you’re hunting for more Indy 500 value bets, look to Takuma Sato (+3000) and Spencer Pigot (+4000). Sato obviously won here in 2017, while Pigot found himself in the fast nine this year.
Sato could be a trendy wager due to his thick odds despite winning a year ago. Still, consecutive winners are rare at the Indy 500, and racing fans haven’t seen one since Helio Castroneves won in 2001 and 2002.
Other big names that offering elite value and could be surprise finishers are Charlie Kimball (+4000) and J.R. Hildebrand (+4000).
Kimball has two top-five runs at the Indy 500 over his last three races, while Hildebrand finished second here in 2011 and has four total runs inside the top 10.
Overall, if I had to pick one sleeper to back, I’m going with Patrick.
Patrick left NASCAR after not being able to achieve elite success, and IndyCar is her jam. Considering her recent run and her past production here, she is a very fun bet at +2500.
Like I said before, it’s important to look at these massive events from all angles and consider virtually every aspect before making your pick(s).
I’d put an emphasis on betting on more than one driver, too, since there are 33 options for you here.
With so many talented drivers and past winners competing, it makes for one heck of a race, and really anything can happen.
Experience can be key here, but I’m a believer in narratives. Rossi is the favorite, but the top sportsbooks don’t like him by much, and anyone at +800 is no lock.
If I’m betting on the Indy 500, I’m certainly throwing some money at Rossi but also tossing a little cash on 1-2 of my other top favorites and 1-2 of my favorite sleepers.
I’d limit the overall money being spent and also cut down your driver picks to just a handful, though.
With all that being said, my favorite overall driver here has to be Will Power.
Power may be running out of time to nail this race, which he’s been very successful in but has yet to win. He also just won this year’s Indy Grand Prix, so positive momentum could back him here as he chases another elusive title.
I would also toss some bets on Rossi, Patrick, and Carpenter, but Power at +1000 is probably my favorite play going into this year’s Indy 500.
The post Full Betting Preview for the 2018 Indy 500 – Odds and Picks appeared first on GamblingSites.com.
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I was wondering if the field would be any good this week. Then I latched onto Rob Bolton’s power rankings on pgatour.com and saw that world beaters Jon Rahm and Rickie Fowler barely cracked the top 15!
Apparently, the Fort Worth Invitational at Colonial Country Club has a bevy of world-class players set to tee it up on Thursday, and that means we have plenty of choices in the betting arena.
Bovada.lv took care of us by offering a decent-sized selection of bets, including some matchups that are piquing my interest.
It’s up to us to crack the code and figure out where the real value lies. In other words, which wagers have a higher likelihood of panning out than the odds that are attached indicate?
For example, last week, we were able to make some money on Keith Mitchell (+110) in his matchup against J.B. Holmes (-140) without a sweat. All you had to do was spend 5 minutes looking at recent form and a few key stats relevant to the course setup to realize that Mitchell was a shoe-in to pummel Holmes head-to-head.
I would have happily paid -115 or -120 for Keith last week in that matchup. When I see discrepancies that large, the obvious thing to do is pounce on the opportunity.
As far as this week goes, if I know one thing about the par-70 golf course in Fort Worth, it’s that you have to keep the ball in play off the tee. My two key stats to look out for are as follows.
Par 4 scoring average ScramblingThere’s only two par 5s on the entire track, and the best way to attack the hole locations is to set up proper angles from the fairway.
The greens are tricky and extremely small, so I want to target guys with stout short games. Bombing the ball is great, but accuracy and wedge play is what is going to separate the contenders from the rest of the pack.
“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Last week, we rode Adam Scott’s hot ball striking into an easy matchup victory over Beau Hossler. This week, I’m jumping on the Aussie’s back once again because he did exactly what I anticipated at Trinity Forest, and then some.
Clearly, making the switch back to the long putter at THE PLAYERS started a fire in his belly, because he parlayed that 11th-place finish into a T-9th last week in Dallas. He has strung together some nice positive vibes and should ride the momentum right into play this week.
To be truthful, he was probably a bit disappointed with his finish when you consider just how good he struck the ball.
Not only did Adam lead the field in strokes gained (SG) from tee-to-green, but he also finished 2nd in strokes gained with his approach shots and was 3rd in SG around the green.
A small tweak with the flat stick at Colonial, and the 2014 Crowne Plaza Invitational winner (former name of this event) should be right in the mix come Sunday. As for Matt Kuchar, generally the epitome of consistent play…
Don’t get me wrong, the former Georgia Tech star is right on schedule to make his usual $4 million or so this season, but he’s actually in the midst of a “mini-slump,” if there ever was such a thing. Hear me out.
Since his last top 10 at the Houston Open on April 1st, Matt has played 6 events. Over that stretch, he’s logged just one top 20, a 17th-place finish at TPC Sawgrass. He even missed the cut just 45 miles down the road last week at Trinity Forest, admitting that he let his emotions get the best of him.
I don’t expect the frustration to linger and think Kuchar is a good bet to get back to playing some good golf. I just think Adam’s current form is something that can’t be ignored, not at -115.
This is an interesting scenario, but see if you can get on board.
The whole point when betting sports is trying to spot value, right? I found something quite interesting that you might want to take note of. In Patrick Cantlay’s H2H matchup vs. Jimmy Walker this week, Cantlay is listed as a -140 favorite, while Walker is at +110.
So why is Walker listed at +2500 to win and Cantlay is +2800? Why is Jimmy +175 to finish in the top 10 and Patrick is +260?
One may point directly to the head-to-head matchup and think Jimmy at +110 is some amazing value. Quite frankly, with the way he is playing, it seems like a wonderful price. As much as I love Cantlay, it’s hard to ignore a +110 price tag when on paper it seems like this should be pretty even matchup. I feel like both players should be in the -110 or -115 range.
It almost seems too good to be true. It just doesn’t add up. But hey, my job is just to spot the value when it sticks out like a sore thumb.
What is intriguing to me is that I can get Cantlay at +260 to finish in the top 10 instead of only getting +175 for Walker.
Jimmy is playing some incredible golf right now, riding in on the heels of three straight top-6 finishes in individual stroke-play events. The Texas native knows how to play in his home state and is a great candidate to get into contention this week.
Meanwhile, the former UCLA Bruin seems to play good golf no matter where he plays and what the conditions are. Cantlay is nothing if not consistent. I guess when you have no holes in your game, good results tend to follow. So here’s a bonus pick for you.
While placing these two bets may seem like hedging against yourself, you actually could potentially win both bets and be swimming in cash. If you prefer to make just one of these two wagers, the good news is that you can’t really go wrong.
The probability that Jimmy beats Patrick this week warrants a bet at his +110 price tag. Likewise, given that Cantlay should be in the +200 to +220 range to finish in the top 10 based on the guys around him, his line of +260 is worth taking a serious look.
Based on the data in front us, in either case, you’ll be getting value. As a sports bettor, that’s all you can really ask for.
Jordan Spieth and Colonial Country Club; it’s like a match made in heaven. When you look at Jordan Spieth, and you try and find a golf course that suits his strengths, I’m not sure if there’s a better fit on tour than the John Bredemus and Perry Maxwell design in Fort Worth.
The hometown hero who grew up and made his residence nearby has an affinity for this golf course, as he has shown in previous years.
I mean, the dude has finished 2nd-1st-2nd in his last three appearances at Colonial and should be mentally rested after a “so-so” 21st-place showing a week ago.
If you remember at the top of the page, my two key stats for the week are par-4 scoring and scrambling.
Well, Jordan is 4th and 3rd on the PGA Tour respectively in those two statistics, and I don’t have to tell you how hot he can get with the putter.
This isn’t about Jon Rahm, and don’t get it twisted – the Spaniard is an absolute stud and is a force to be reckoned with. But in a head-to-head matchup against the Golden Child who knows nothing but success here, I have no problem dishing out -140.
Rahm is uber-talented and could certainly win this week. But this is setting up too perfectly for Spieth. He’s -125 to finish in the top 10 in a 121-man field, and you can get -140 for him to beat a single opponent. Don’t overthink this one, and confidently wager your money on Spieth.
Profiting from sports betting is becoming increasingly difficult for the average bettor. The oddsmakers and casino operators are getting sharper and sharper as more data becomes available.
This means we have to work harder to spot value, and ensure we take advantage of any lines we don’t think are “properly priced.”
As someone who follows the PGA Tour closely and understands the ebbs and flows that the game brings, I feel like I can do a fairly good job at that. Hopefully it all pans out this week, and we can all turn a handsome profit.
With any questions or concerns, feel free to shoot me a message. Otherwise, I’ll see you back next week for some betting tips for Jack’s Tournament, the Memorial!
The post Preview of the 2018 Fort Worth Invitational – My Matchup Picks appeared first on GamblingSites.com.
