Aussie gamblers forced to pay up
2006-03-14 07:20
Sydney - Australian gamblers re-learnt an old lesson along with the nation's cricketers in this week's record breaking one-day international in Johannesburg: there's no such thing as a certainty.
After Australia posted a record one-day total of 434 at the Wanderers Stadium on Sunday, three punters lost A$56 000 (R256 388.65) betting that South Africa could not beat it.
The odds were not attractive. Two of the gamblers bet A$20 000 each with Centrebet at 1.01 to one for the chance to win just A$200.
South Africa romped home
The third put A$16 000 on with Sportsbook.com.au at 1.06 to one, hoping to make $A960. All lost when South Africa romped home with one ball to spare.
"I almost didn't bother putting the odds up between innings," Centrebet's Gerard Daffy told the Sydney Morning Herald.
"I didn't think anyone would be interested. It just goes to show again, there's no such thing as a certainty. It's what keeps bookmakers in business."
Nobody backed South Africa at Centrebet's odds of 26 to one. At that price, $A20 000 would have earned a cool $520 000.
- AFP