Online Betting News

After a Tory MP defected to Labour, William Hill offer 5/1 that another one will do so before the end of next year; and 10/1 that a Labour MP will cross the floor to join the Conservatives.

**William Hill have cut the odds about a General Election being held in 2008 from 10/1 to 5/1 as political punters back rumours that Gordon Brown is planning to go to the country sooner rather than later.

Hills still make 2009 1/ 2 favourite to be the year of the next Election, but 2007 is down to 16/1 from 25/1, while Hills offer 3/1 that the next Election will not take place until 2010 or later.

William Hill have shortened Labour’s odds for the next General Election for the first time since they won the last one - and the bookies are putting renewed support the Party down to the new Leader.

‘Since Gordon Brown was confirmed as the new Leader, punters have begun to start backing Labour seriously again - something which hasn’t happened since the last Election’ said Hill’s spokesman Graham Sharpe, Hills have now cut Labour from 6/5 to Even money to be the largest Party at the next Election with the Conservatives being lengthened from 8/13 to 8/11, albeit they are still favourites.

The Lib dems have been pushed out from 80/1 to 100/1 - ‘In their current disarray they appear to be unelectable’. Hills also offer 4/5 for a Hung Parliament at the next Election.

William Hill have seen a run of money for Prince William and Kate Middleton to get back together and Hill’s have cut the price of them getting engaged from 33/1 to 3/1 in the last few days.

“Punters are piling in based on the stories that the break-up has actually brought them closer together and punters are certainly hoping that William will decide that he has made a mistake and that they will get back together.

We thought we had saved ourselves £50,000 when they split but if they get back together it will be a massive turnaround and it could well cost us £100,000,” said Hills spokesman Rupert Adams.

Will and Kate To Get Engaged: 3/1 from 33/1.

At what age will Wills Wed: 30-32 5/4, 28-30 3/1; 26-27 5/1; 32-34 6/1; 24-25 10/1; 35+ 8/1.

33/1 (From 20/1) William becomes King as a single man.

Harriet Harman’s shock victory in the race to become Deputy Leader has delighted bookmakers William Hill, who had slashed Alan Johnson’s odds as punters backed him as though defeat was out of the question.

‘Ms Harman was always third favourite, but at 7/1 she attracted no bets bigger than £200 and we are delighted with her victory which has saved us a six figure payout had Johnson won’ said Hill’s spokesman Graham Sharpe.

‘He went off as 1/ 3 red hot favourite ahead of Hilary Benn at 4/1.’

HARRIET HARMAN has been cut from 25/1 to 10/1 to become the next Labour leader in succession to Gordon Brown with William Hill who make David Miliband 2/1 favourite and also offer 8/1 Ed Balls; 9/1 Hilary Benn; 10/1 Alan Johnson.

Hatton v Mayweather to be biggest betting fight ever, but Ricky 3/1 to stay undefeated until end of 2008:

William Hill were left feeling as sore as Ricky Hatton’s kayoed opponent Jose Luis Castillo as fans of the popular world champion relieved bookies of over half a million pounds.

‘Ricky was backed from 6/1 to 5/2 to win by knockout; from 1/ 2 to 3/10 to win the fight outright and at 40/1 to win in round four.

The result was a six figure loser for William Hill alone and the industry is facing up to its worst loss on a boxing match since Frank Bruno won the World Title.’ said William Hill spokesman Graham Sharpe.

‘A fight between Ricky and Floyd Mayweather in England would be the biggest betting fight of all time, with over ten million likely to be at stake on the outcome, double even Lewis-Tyson’

FLOYD MAYWEATHER will be 1/ 2 favourite to beat Hatton, who will be 6/4, say William Hill who make Hatton 5/6 to beat Oscar de la Hoya (also 5/6); He is 5/4 to beat Miguel Cotto, who will be 4/7 favourite; 1/ 4 to beat Junior Witter, who is 11/4, and 1/8 to beat Malignaggi, a 9/2 shot. The draw is 20/1 for each fight.

**HILLS make Hatton 3/1 to stay undefeated until the end of 2008, 2/9 to lose before then.’Hatton is unlikely to have any easy fights before the end of next year and he’ll do well to maintain his unbeaten record’ said Hill’s spokesman Graham Sharpe.

‘We’re perhaps taking a chance by offering 3/1 that he will maintain his perfect career statistics but he won’t be clear favourite to beat any of the three most likely contenders out there.’

One punter staked £10,000, another £8000, on a Hatton victory, and another gambled £1500 on a Hatton knockout victory as bookies were unable to take any significant cash for the beaten Castillo.

**Hatton’s devastating win over Castillo has seen his BBC TV Sports Personality of the Year odds slashed from 25/1 to 14/1 fourth favourite by William Hill who make
Lewis Hamilton 1/8 favourite with Frankie Dettori 9/1;
Andy Murray 10/1;
Monty Panesar 14/1
David Beckham 20/1.

In their market ‘without’ Hamilton, Hills make Dettori 9/4 favourite and also offer 5/1 Murray; 7/1 Hatton; Panesar; 10/1 Beckham.

Following huge Man City fan Ricky Hatton’s spectacular win over Jose Luis Castillo, William Hill have opened a book on what will happen first for either Ricky or City - and offer Evens that Hatton will lose a fight; 4/1 City to finish in the top half of the Premiership; 6/1 City to be relegated; 12 New City boss to leave; 20/1 Hatton to win BBC Sports Personality. Hills offer 4/1 that none of these will happen.

Brown Factor Boost For Labour Election Odds

William Hill have shortened Labour’s odds for the next General Election for the first time since they won the last one - and the bookies are putting renewed support the Party down to the new Leader.

‘Since Gordon Brown was confirmed as the new Leader, punters have begun to start backing Labour seriously again - something which hasn’t happened since the last Election’ said Hill’s spokesman Graham Sharpe, Hills have now cut Labour from 6/5 to Even money to be the largest Party at the next Election with the Conservatives being lengthened from 8/13 to 8/11, albeit they are still favourites.

The Lib dems have been pushed out from 80/1 to 100/1 - ‘In their current disarray they appear to be unelectable’.

Hills also offer 4/5 for a Hung Parliament at the next Election.

For the second year out of three, bookies William Hill have been stung by a huge gamble on the colour of the Queens hat on Ladies Day at Royal Ascot.

Having paid out more than £20,000 two years ago on a brown hat, Hills face another five figure pay out this year after Her Majesty sported a predominately cream hat today.

Hills spokeswoman Jennie Prest said, “It’s a fun market and usually just small stakes but we treating this market with increasing scepticism, as we’ve been subject to massive gambles two out of the last three years.

Once again some punters seem to have a crystal ball when it comes to knowing what the Queen may choose.”

“The biggest bet we laid on cream was £150 @ 5-1 but we’ve had dozens of other requests at smaller stakes and a number of new customers opening new accounts specifically just to have this bet.”

William Hill bet for the colour of the Queens Hat Ladies Day Royal Ascot 2008:
3-1 Blue,
5-1 Yellow,
6-1 Pink
6-1 Green
7-1 Cream / Beige
8-1 White
8-1 Black & White

10-1 BAR

Ricky Hatton is 5/1 with William Hill to retain his World Title with a knockout win over Jose Luis Castillo at the weekend - but punters are betting on a shock result, and William Hill have had to slash their odds for Castillo to win by knockout from 9/1 to 6/1.

‘We have been quite surprised at the level of support for a Castillo win by kayo and after taking a string of three figure bets, and one from a Scottish client of £1000, we have cut the price from 9/1 to 6/1, and we’re already looking at a six figure payout if the challenger puts Ricky down for a ten count’ said Hill’s spokesman Graham Sharpe.

‘Castillo is a come-forward slugger to it could be a dramatic fight.’

Hills make unbeaten Hatton 1/2 to win the fight, with his challenger 6/4 and the draw a 16/1 chance.

‘Ricky has not quite been firing on all cylinders in recent fights and with doubts about his methods of making the weight some punters are also hedging their bets by backing the draw’ said Hill’s spokesman Graham Sharpe.

‘We really haven’t yet seen much sign of a patriotic punt on Ricky.’

Castillo is 9/4 to win on points, for which outcome Ricky is 11/10.

Hatton is 66/1 with Hills to win in round one and round two;
50/1 round three and round four;
33/1 in rd 6;
25/1 in round 7 and rd 8;
20/1 rd 9,10, 11, 12.

Castillo is 80/1 for a first round stoppage and 50/1 to win in the last round.

Seany looks set to pack his Big Brother bags this Friday as bookies William Hill have seen plenty of money for the charity worker to be booted out of the house next.

William Hill spokeswoman Jennie Prest said, “We’ve seen money for Seany to go today, but it’s a close call between him and Jonathan and it wouldn’t surprise me if they are both backed more before Friday. This is Carole’s second eviction vote but she looks safe again this week.”

Brian has been steadily supported since entering the house last week and from an original quote of 20-1, he is now the 7-1 fourth joint favourite to win.

William Hill Bet To Win Big Brother 2007:

5-1 Gerry,
6-1 Tracey,
13-2 Liam,
7-1 Brian, Chanelle,
10-1 Ziggy,
14-1 Amanda, Sam,
16-1 Carole,
20-1 Billi, Laura, Seany,
25-1 Nicky,
33-1 Jonathan,
50-1 Charley

(any other 7-1)

William Hill Bet For The Second BB8 Eviction:
8-13 Seany,
6-4 Jonathan,
9-1 Carole

William Hill are offering odds of 14/1 that Gordon Brown’s first cabinet will include one or more non-Labour politicians.

But the current row over whether any Lib-Dem should be permitted to join a Labour cabinet has seen Hills make Sir Menzies Campbell, who is warning his Lib-Dem coleagues not to associate with Labour, a 4/6 chance NOT to lead his Party into the next General Election - and 11/10 that he WILL do so.

‘If Gordon Brown calculated that this initiative might destabilise the Lib Dems, he seems to have been spot on as Sir Ming now seems to be damned if he says ‘yes’ and damned if he says ‘no’ and therefore we think he is now an odds-against chance to survive as Leader into the next General Election campaign.’ said Hill’s spokesman Graham Sharpe.
Alan Johnson is now a red-hot 1/ 3 favourite to become the next Deputy Leader of the Labour Party with William Hill, who have slashed his odds from 4/6 after very heavy backing, and who now make Hilary Benn 7/2, out from 2/1; Harriet Harman 11/2; Jon Cruddas 14/1; Hazel Blears and Peter Hain both 50/1.

‘The support for Johnson is beginning to look conclusive - the only other candidate we have taken anything for in the past couple of days is Harriet Harman, but AJ seems set to deliver winnings to the punters who have backed the former postman as though he were a first class bet ever since he was offered at 4/1 when Hilary Benn was the leading contender’ said Hill’s spokesman Graham Sharpe

With Chelsea seeded in the Champions League for the first time, William Hill have installed the deposed champions as 13/2 second favourites to win the tournament - and 9/4 to do better than their British rivals.

Barcelona are 6/1 favourites to win the Champions League with William Hill whon also offer

13/2 Chelsea;
7/1 Man Utd;
9/1 AC Milan;
10 Inter; Real Madrid;
12 Liverpool;
14 Arsenal;
16 Lyon; Sevilla;
20 Valencia;
25 Roma;
40 Lazio; Schalke; Stutgart; Werder B;
100 Celtic; Rangers.

Chelsea are also 9/4 favourites to do best of the Brits with William Hill who also offer

5/2 Man Utd;
11/4 Liverpool;
9/2 Arsenal;
12/1 Celtic;
16/1 Rangers.

Sven Goran Erikkson has been backed into odds-on favourite to become the next Manchester City manager with William Hill, who now offer him at 8/15 and also offer 4/1 Chris Coleman; 10/1 Ramos; 12/1 Houllier; 14/1Hughes; 16/1 Jewell; Koeman; 20 Adriaanse; 25 Strachan.

William Hill believe that whoever becomes the next Manchester City boss will be in for a tough time - and already make the as-yet unknown next incumbent of the job 16/1 eighth favourite to be the next Premiership boss to lose his job.

‘Our odds for the next boss to go might give potentail City contenders like Chris Coleman and Sven pause for thought - we think City are more likely to struggle than flourish this season’ said Hill’s spokesman Graham Sharpe. Hills make City 1/3 to finish in the bottom half and 9/4 in the top half.

Sven Goran Erikkson is now 6/4 favourite to be the next City boss with Hills who also offer 9/4 Coleman; 7/1 Ramos; 8/1 Houllier; 12/1 Jewell.

Pearce 1/ 6 To Keep England Job…..Following England’s brave exit from the European U21 tournament, William Hill are offering odds of 1/6 that Stuart Pearce will now take up the manager’s job full time (7/2 that he won’t) and 8/1 that he will succeed Steve McClaren as the next England senior side boss.

‘The side showed typical Pearce traits and achieved more than many expected so it would seem the job is Stuart’s if he wants it’ said Hill’s spokesman Graham Sharpe, ‘And if he takes it he could well be in the right place at the right time when McClaren departs’ Hills make Holland 4/7 to win the Euro U21 tournament with Serbia 5/4.

ARSENE WENGER has been shortened from 20/1 to 16/1 to be the next Premiership boss to leave his club by William Hill who make Chris Hutchings 3/1 favourite and also offer 4/1 Sammy Lee; 6/1 Steve Bruce; 8/1 Billy Davies; 10 Sanchez; Southgate; 16 Hughes, Wenger, Next City boss.
Wenger is 1/ 4 still to be Arsenal boss on the last day of the forthcoming Premiership season and 11/4 not to.

SCHEVCHENKO is 8/15 to be playing for Chelsea on the opening day of season 2007/8, and 11/8 to be elsewhere. (Loan deal will count as ‘elsewhere’ for purposes of this bet)

ALIADIERE is 11/8 to score five or more Premiership goals for his new club Middlesbro this season with Hills who offer 5/2 that he manages one or none; and 11/8 that he scores 2-4. He is 150/1 to be top Premiership scorer.