Royal wedding? It's something you can bet on
Source: Agencies |
January 22, 2011, Saturday
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Print Edition
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TWO of Britain's favorite pastimes - royal watching and betting - are morphing into one that's centered on the royal wedding.
Prince William and Kate Middleton aren't even married yet - that will be on April 29 - but some Britons are already betting on when they'll divorce.
The odds are unlikely, the topic is disrespectful but when two people disagree on a subject, it's time to lay some money down.
"There's a real tradition of betting on what the royals will do next," said Darren Haines, a spokesman for bookmaker Paddy Power. "The UK has a strange fascination with the royals."
The most popular wagers for the past few years has been on if, when and where Kate and William would marry. After news of their engagement broke in November, the when brought in 30,000 pounds (US$48,000) worth of bets for Ladbrokes, spokesman Alex Donohue said.
The where - which has been confirmed as Westminster Abbey - took in about 15,000 pounds in bets.
Bookmakers are now looking to capitalize on royal wedding mania by adding novelty bets before more details emerge.
Will the bride-to-be arrive at her wedding ceremony on time, three minutes late, or make guests wait 11 minutes? How long will the train of her dress be?
Gamblers are invited to place bets on all the above.
Most bookmakers are running a variation of the divorce question, with almost certain odds that the couple will make it to their 10th anniversary.
Londoner Lisa Barret thought that bet was an "awful idea." The 55-year-old said: "You don't gamble on something like someone's marriage."
But bookmakers beg to differ and are eagerly considering suggestions for other bets as the big day approaches. It might seem that nothing is off limits, yet even bookmakers draw the line somewhere - rejecting bets on the likelihood of a terrorist act on the day of the ceremony.
"We don't look to bet on anything that's distasteful so we refused that request," Haines said. "This is all about fun."
The average wager - 3.5 pounds - reflects the fact that gamblers are betting money they don't mind losing, a spokesman for bookmaker William Hill said.
"It's largely people speculating more for fun and a conversation piece than those who are genuinely expecting to make money," Rupert Adams said.
London accountant Rana Theva said: "People will place bets on just about anything. The 'X Factor,' horses, lotteries ... So why not the wedding?"
William Hill is looking to add three or four new wedding wagers a week. Bets are still open on the location of William's stag party and who his brother Prince Harry will take to the wedding as his date.
Betting on the couple's honeymoon destination closed at William Hill on January 10 after an attempted wager of 5,000 pounds in favor of Kenya by a new account raised red flags.
"Nobody would risk 5,000 pounds unless they knew already that they were definitely going to go to Kenya," Adams said.
Prince William and Kate Middleton aren't even married yet - that will be on April 29 - but some Britons are already betting on when they'll divorce.
The odds are unlikely, the topic is disrespectful but when two people disagree on a subject, it's time to lay some money down.
"There's a real tradition of betting on what the royals will do next," said Darren Haines, a spokesman for bookmaker Paddy Power. "The UK has a strange fascination with the royals."
The most popular wagers for the past few years has been on if, when and where Kate and William would marry. After news of their engagement broke in November, the when brought in 30,000 pounds (US$48,000) worth of bets for Ladbrokes, spokesman Alex Donohue said.
The where - which has been confirmed as Westminster Abbey - took in about 15,000 pounds in bets.
Bookmakers are now looking to capitalize on royal wedding mania by adding novelty bets before more details emerge.
Will the bride-to-be arrive at her wedding ceremony on time, three minutes late, or make guests wait 11 minutes? How long will the train of her dress be?
Gamblers are invited to place bets on all the above.
Most bookmakers are running a variation of the divorce question, with almost certain odds that the couple will make it to their 10th anniversary.
Londoner Lisa Barret thought that bet was an "awful idea." The 55-year-old said: "You don't gamble on something like someone's marriage."
But bookmakers beg to differ and are eagerly considering suggestions for other bets as the big day approaches. It might seem that nothing is off limits, yet even bookmakers draw the line somewhere - rejecting bets on the likelihood of a terrorist act on the day of the ceremony.
"We don't look to bet on anything that's distasteful so we refused that request," Haines said. "This is all about fun."
The average wager - 3.5 pounds - reflects the fact that gamblers are betting money they don't mind losing, a spokesman for bookmaker William Hill said.
"It's largely people speculating more for fun and a conversation piece than those who are genuinely expecting to make money," Rupert Adams said.
London accountant Rana Theva said: "People will place bets on just about anything. The 'X Factor,' horses, lotteries ... So why not the wedding?"
William Hill is looking to add three or four new wedding wagers a week. Bets are still open on the location of William's stag party and who his brother Prince Harry will take to the wedding as his date.
Betting on the couple's honeymoon destination closed at William Hill on January 10 after an attempted wager of 5,000 pounds in favor of Kenya by a new account raised red flags.
"Nobody would risk 5,000 pounds unless they knew already that they were definitely going to go to Kenya," Adams said.
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