Online Betting News

Claudio Ranieri has drifted to be the next Manchester City manager after news that he is reportedly keen to stay at Serie A club Parma.The 56-year-old took over struggling Parma in February and has successfully guided them to safety, with a 12th-placed finish in the Serie A standings.

His impressive stint for the Gialloblu, supposedly convinced the Man City board that he is the man to take over from former boss Stuart Pearce.

But the Italian is keen to build on his success at Parma.

“I would like to remain at Parma,” said former Chelsea manager Ranieri, whose contract with the Ducale club ends in June.

“It is a healthy club, led by people who love football. But my future has yet to be decided.”

Ranieri, matched at a low of 1.57 on Betfair, has drifted out to 9/4 on the exchange to take over at City while he’s also been eased to 7/4 by bet365.

bet365 spokesman Steve Freeth said: “Like our punters we’ve read the comments coming out of the Parma camp and it’s understandable to see why he’s drifting like a barge.

“However, as a bookmaker, you always have to take these quotes with a pinch of salt and we’d still be wary if they came back for Ranieri at 7/4.

Gerard Houllier has been backed into 11/4, from 8/1, to become the next manager of Manchester City, according to those in the know at Ladbrokes.

The former Liverpool manager recently quit as Lyon coach, punters wasted no time putting two and two together.-Gambling him through 6/1 and 4/1 into 11/4.

Ladbrokes spokesman, Nick Weinberg, said: “Punters were quick to leap on Houllier’s exit from Lyon as an indication that he’ll take over at the city of Manchester Stadium.

“The timing would suggest there’s something in it, but, as has been the case for the whole saga, much will depend on Taksin Shinawatra’s on-off takeover bid.�

Long time favourite, Claudio Ranieri, is out to 10/11, from 8/11 for the City hot seat.

The new series of the Channel 4 reality show kicks off on Wednesday.

The first Big Brother took just £1 million in wagers.

But Ladbrokes spokesman Nick Weinberg said: “Big Brother 1 was a step into the unknown. Contestants, viewers and punters alike really didn’t know what to expect.

“In the early days we only offered win and eviction markets. But it’s now possible to bet on a large number of specials, even before anyone has set foot inside the famous house.

“Big Brother is now a firm fixture in the betting calendar and by far the biggest reality TV show ever to appear on our screens.”

Ladbrokes are offering odds of 10/1 that disgraced Celebrity Big Brother contestant Jade Goody will enter the house.

The bookmaker is also offering 50/1 that the scandal-hit show will be taken off air before the end of the series.

And the odds of Channel 4 chief executive Andy Duncan quitting his job before Big Brother 8 ends are just 4/1.

However, Duncan should be in no hurry to leave - in July he picks up a £450,000 loyalty bonus as a reward for staying with the channel for three years.

Punters celebrated as Liverpool fans were left to drown their sorrows after their Champions League defeat.

Around £20million was gambled on the Champions League, and I should imagine that supporters of every other English club will be counting their profits - there was precious little sign of supporter solidarity with Liverpool as we were overwhelmed by backing for AC - there was a seven figure difference between what we would have won if Liverpool had done it and what we’ve lost because they didn’t’ said William Hill’s spokesman Graham Sharpe.

Hills took six five figure bets of up to £20,000 each on an AC Milan victory.

Liverpool are now 2/5 to win NOTHING again next season with William Hill who make them 10/1 to win the Champions League and 33/1 to meet AC in the Final again.

BARCELONA are 11/2 favourites to win next season’s Champions League with Hills who also offer
6/1 Chelsea;
7/1 Man U;
9/1 AC; Real Madrid;
10 Inter; Liverpool;
66 Celtic;
100 Rangers.
An all-British Final is 6/1.

Chelsea are 9/4 to do best of the British sides in the Champions League next season with William Hill who also offer
5/2 Man U;
11/4 Liverpool;
9/2 Arsenal;
12 Celtic;
16 Rangers.

Bookmakers William Hill have pushed out the price of Channel 4 pulling the plug on Big Brother 8 from 25/1 to 100/1 following today’s OFCOM decision.

“The Shilpa saga was about as serious as it gets and the repercussions have been relatively lenient, leading us to the conclusion that however controversial Big Brother 8 becomes, it will be allowed to stay on air,” said Hill’s spokesman Rupert Adams.

Hill’s think it far more likely that an incident during Big Brother 8 will result in a similar demand for an apology from OFCOM and offer 3/1 that they do so.

Hills are predicting in excess of £15 million will be gambled on the outcome of Big Brother 8 and have already seen early interest in the special markets that they are offering.

Particularly for a housemate to fall down the stairs on opening night, which Hill’s rate at 8/1, half the price they offered a year ago when eventual winner Pete launched himself down the stairs costing Hill’s nearly £10,000 before all the contestants were even in the house.

William Hill Big Brother 8 Specials:

5/2 Any contestant to receive over 90% of the eviction vote
3/1 OFCOM to demand another Public Apology following an incident that takes place during Big Brother 8
5/1 A Housemate to leave within 24 hours of the start
8/1 A Housemate to fall down stairs on arrival
100/1 BB to be taken off air mid series

How many Housemates will walk out?:
6/4 One,
13/8 None,
10/3 Two,
6/1 Three or more

Ken Brown, a 34 year old financial advisor from Manchester, looks set to win £10,900 from bookies William Hill after placing a bet in 1999 that then promising teenager, Dean Schofield (Sale Sharks) would gain a full England Rugby Union cap.

Ken who is a volunteer Rugby coach at Aldwynians Rugby Club, near Manchester, has seen thousands of young up and coming rugby players, but as soon as he saw the then eighteen year old Dean he immediately contacted William Hill, asking if they would offer odds about him playing for England.

Hill’s offered 200/1, and Ken placed £54.50.

When - if - Dean Schofield runs onto the pitch to take on South Africa on Saturday Hill’s will hand over £10,900.

“We have had a run of these long-shot wagers recently including a £10,000 payout to the Kirkland Family when their son Chris was called up for the England football team and a five figure payout to a gentleman who lived to be one hundred.

You have to take your hat - or scrum cap - off to Ken.

A lot of people think about placing bets on rising stars, but few actually put their money where their mouth is, and even fewer win,� said Hill’s spokesman Rupert Adams.

Bookmakers William Hill rate England as massive underdogs for the first Rugby Union Test against South Africa on Saturday and offer 6/1 for an England victory and 1/12 that the home side are victorious.

Hill’s also offer 4/1 that any of England’s debutants score a debut try and 5/1 that Andy Farrell scores a try.

Hill’s have also opened a market on how England talisman Johnny Wilkinson will score his first points and make a penalty their 1/2 favourite and offer 5/2 for a conversion, 8/1 Drop Goal and 16/1 he scores a try.

“England have a very depleted squad and the latest news suggests that there is a bug going round the England squad, which has ensured that England are Friendless in the market,� said Hill’s spokesman Rupert Adams.

William Hill England vs South Africa 1st Test:
1/12 South Africa,
6/1 England,
25/1 Draw

How Will Wilkinson Score His First Points:
1/2 Penalty Goal,
5/2 Conversion,
8/1 Drop Goal,
16/1 Try

A.Farrell to score a try:
1/9 No,
5/1 Yes

William Hill are offering odds of 8/13 that Michael Owen will play the whole of England’s Euro 2008 qualification game against Estonia,if he starts it, but 6/5 that he starts and is substitued before the end.

Meanwhile, Hills are betting on whether David Beckham will make the starting line up of the Estonia game or not, and have lengthened their odds from 1/16 to 4/11 that he will not ,but have slashed the odds about him starting from 7/1 to 2/1 that he will.

Hills are also offering: 2/5 Beckham to play no part in the game; 9/4 to play the whole game; 9/2 to come on as sub; 10/1 to be substituted.

The vast majority of bets placed with Hill’s for the 2nd Test against the West Indies are for the Draw and Hill’s are now 1/1 half the price of the original 2/1 quote.

England are offered at 1/1 with the West Indies 15/2 outsiders and Kevin Pietersen is the 11/4 to be England’s top run scorer over the Test.

Hill’s also offer 10/1 for Harmison to take five or more wickets in the West Indies first innings.

“Even if the weather behaves, punters cannot see twenty wickets in either bowling attack and our liabilities for the draw have topped £100,000 already,” said Hill’s spokesman Rupert Adams.

William Hill 2nd Test:
1/1 England,
15/2 West Indies,
1/1 Draw

William Hill England Top Scorer:
11/4 Pietersen,
7/2 Cook,
9/2 Vaughan,
9/2 Strauss,
5/1 Collingwood,
11/2 Bell,
8/1 Prior,
80/1 Plunkett,
100/1 Sidebottom,
150/1 Harmison,
150/1 Panesar,
150/1 Anderson

Endland’s 1st Wicket:
5/6 Thirty Nine Or Less,
5/6 Forty or more

Endland’s Top Match Wicket Taker:
5/1 Harmison,
5/1 Anderson,
6/1 Panesar,
7/1 Powell,
8/1 Sidebottom,
7/1 Plunkett,
8/1 Taylor,
10/1 Edwards,
10/1 Bravo,
10/1 Collymore,
20/1 Collingwood

Bookmakers William Hill fully expect the Queen to be voted the Greatest Living Briton on Monday night and she is the odds on favourite at 4/6 to win the award which will be voted for live on Monday night.

Hills rate Paul McCartney as their 11/4 second favourite with Robbie Williams the best backed outsider cut from 12/1 to 4/1.

Maggie Thatcher at 8/1 and Julie Andrews (20/1) are the outsider.

“We seem to be a nation of closet royalists as Zara Phillips won the Sports Personality of the Year with ease and we expect the Queen to clean up,� said Hill’s spokesman Rupert Adams.

William Hill Greatest Living Briton:

4/6 Queen,
11/4 P McCartney,
4/1 Robbie Williams,
8/1 Maggie Thatcher,
20/1 Julie Andrews.