Belmont Betting Odds: Animal Kingdom Made Morning Line Favorite

Horse racing's Triple Crown does not draw the excitement that it used to in the US, but that does not mean that gamblers do not look forward to the three big races. There will be no Triple Crown winner this year, but there will still be plenty of excitement in New York tomorrow.

The Belmont Stakes, the third leg of the Triple Crown, has seen several horses in the past decade come to New York with a chance at becoming the first horse in decades to win the Triple Crown. Unfortunately, none of the horses succeeded.

This year, Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom will be looking to capture at least two of the three races. Animal Kingdom has been made the morning line betting favorite, with odds of 2/1 to win the Belmont. John Velazquez will be the jockey attempting to ride Animal Kingdom to the win.

Nehro, who has been shut out of the first two Triple Crown race wins, is the second choice tomorrow, at 4/1. Shackleford was the horse that ruined Animal Kingdom's hopes by winning the Preakness, is the third choice, at 9/2. Jose Castanon will be on top of Shackleford, and Corey Nakatani has been called on to ride Nehro to victory.

Horse racing has slipped in terms of overall popularity over the past two decades. As the popularity has dropped, the race tracks across the US have started to experience financial trouble. Lawmakers in many states have created bills allowing slot machines at the tracks to help ease the financial burden created by the lack of attendance. Kentucky lawmakers have yet to pass a bill that would help legendary Churchill Downs with slots.

The Belmont cast of horses is better than any the race has seen in years. For the first time ever, the top seven finishers from the Kentucky Derby will all be running in the Belmont. Traditionally, some horses are held out of the Belmont because they are not used to running three races in the span of seven weeks.

Others are held out of the race due to the length. The Belmont is longer than both the Derby and the Preakness.

June 10, 2011
Posted By Vincent Tapoglia III
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
Submit News!

View the original article here

Gamblers Watch Helplessly As Heat Give Away Game And Wagers

When gamblers place money on an NBA game, the hope is that the game will be decided in their favor before the last five minutes of the game. That appeared to be the case on Thursday in game two of the NBA Finals.

The Miami Heat, one of the most talented teams in the league, went up by fifteen points with five minutes left when Dwyane Wade hit a three pointer from the corner. At that moment fans in Miami, and gamblers who had bet on the Heat, began to celebrate. What happened next game both the aforementioned groups heartache.

The Dallas Mavericks returned a favor the Heat had provided over five years ago. Dallas came storming back on the strength of strong defense and Dirk Nowitzki's seemingly unwillingness to lose. When Nowitzki made a left-handed layup with less than four seconds to go, Miami fans headed for the doors, and gamblers who placed wagers on Miami headed for the bathroom.

As unpredictable as sports can be, a fifteen point lead for a team that has Wade, LeBron James, and Chris Bosh, is as close to a sure thing as there is in sports. Much like the New York Giants showed a couple of years ago, however, there is no such thing as a sure bet.

Now the question for gamblers will be whether or not the Heat can recover from this type of devastating loss. When Miami came back from thirteen down the last time these teams met in the finals, they went on to win the next three games and capture a championship. Dallas will be looking to do the same, with the next three games in the series being played on their home court.

The Mavericks will head into game three on Sunday as the betting favorites. Dallas is a 2.5 point favorite, and if Miami does not get something going early, they may have a difficult time against a team that has lost on their home floor only once during these playoffs. The total for the game is 189, suggesting another defensive battle is in store.

June 4, 2011
Posted By Vincent Tapoglia III
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
Submit News!

View the original article here

NBA Finals Game Five Betting Preview: Mavericks And Heat Battling

The Miami Heat have had the public scrutiny come at them the entire season, so there is no reason for that to stop now. With LeBron James' legacy on the line, Miami is preparing to play game five of the NBA Finals tonight in Dallas.

The Mavericks avoided the disaster of losing their first two games at home in the series when they rallied to win game four. The series is now tied at two, and has been reduced to a best of three, with the Heat holding the home court advantage. Before they move back to Miami for game six and possibly game seven, Dallas will have a chance to take the series lead at home.

Miami has been the betting favorite to win the NBA title since they assembled Dwyane Wade, James, and Chris Bosh last summer. After struggling early, the Heat started looking like a championship team once the playoffs began. Las Vegas sports books have installed Miami as a 1.5 point betting favorite in game five. The total for the game is 185.

While Wade has had a strong series, James has disappeared at times, causing the national media to again question whether King James has the intestinal fortitude to win the big game. James has had only nine points combined in the fourth quarter of the four games in the finals, and he himself acknowledged that he must step u starting tonight if the Heat are going to win a championship.

"I placed a bet here in Las Vegas when the season began, and I came back this week with the hopes of cashing in that ticket," said Barry Walter, who is in Sin City for the World Series of Poker. "I have to admit though, with the way Miami has melted down a couple of times in this series, and with the way Dirk (Nowitzki) is playing, there is no guarantee I'm holding a winning ticket."

No matter who wins tonight, the series will shift back to South Beach for a game six on Sunday. If necessary, game seven will also be in Miami, on Tuesday night. Analysts have asserted that Dallas must win game five if they are to have a chance of winning a title. Most analysts agree the Mavericks will be facing almost insurmountable odds if they must win the final two games in Miami.

June 10, 2011
Posted By Vincent Tapoglia III
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
Submit News!

View the original article here

Irving And Thompson Chosen To Change Cavaliers Betting Odds

The last time the Cleveland Cavaliers were in a position similar to the one they found themselves in Thursday night, Cleveland took a high school player by the name of LeBron James in the first round of the NBA draft. Now, many years later, Kyrie Irving was the name that came out of David Stern's mouth as the number one pick in the draft.

Irving was selected by the Cavaliers to become the new face of the organization. Unfortunately for Cavaliers fans, the NBA draft is not a science, and there is no guarantee that Irving will provide even a quarter of the highlights that James delivered in his seven seasons with Cleveland.

What James did when he arrived in Cleveland was change the perception of the Cavaliers franchise. Cleveland was no longer considered the bottom-feeders of the league, with odds makers even making them one of the favorites each year to win the title in James' later years with the team.

Irving will be joined on the court by forward Tristan Thompson, of Texas. The duo will be looked upon as possible saviors in the aftermath of what was one of the messiest divorces in NBA history. If Irving and Thompson can deliver on their potential, Cleveland once again could become a contender in the future in the Eastern Conference.

That is a lot of weight to put on the shoulders of two players who have played a combined two seasons of college basketball. Cleveland owner Dan Gilbert made a proclamation last summer that the Cavs would win a title before James did in Miami. He almost was proven wrong in James' first year with his new team.

Dallas gave Gilbert a reprieve, and bought the owner some time. Now, it will be up to Irving and Thompson to make good on that promise. Cleveland winning a title before Miami is still a long shot, but at least now the Cavaliers and their fans have hope, and that is more than they had when they woke up Thursday morning.

June 24, 2011
Posted By Vincent Tapoglia III
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
Submit News!

View the original article here

With NBA Draft On The Horizon, Gamblers Brace For Odd Changes

The NBA draft is only a few days away, and team executives are busy on the phones attempting to complete last minute deals that could alter the draft order. Two teams expected to be betting favorites next year, Los Angeles and Miami, have no number one pick.

That could change by the end of the week. Sources have confirmed that both the Heat and Lakers are looking to pick up a first round pick. The teams are in much different positions when it comes to trade pieces, with the Lakers having many players they could move, and the Heat limited in their assets.

With LeBron James, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade all locked into long term deals, and the NBA labor negotiations not going well, it is unlikely Miami would make much of a splash on the trade market. If the Heat did pick up a pick, it would likely come at the expense of Mike Miller, unless they decided to move Bosh.

The Lakers have the opportunity to make a major deal if they choose to do so. L.A. has Andrew Bynum, a commodity that dozens of NBA teams would like to acquire. It would take a player such as Dwight Howard for the Lakers to even consider moving Bynum, according to league sources.

What is a definite for Thursday's draft is that the Cleveland Cavaliers have two of the top four picks. If they choose to keep the two picks, Cleveland would suddenly have one of the youngest and most exciting teams in the league. Owner Dan Gilbert has vowed that the Cavaliers would win a title before James, an assertion that almost was proven wrong in the first year of the Big Three in Miami.

The Heat are currently the top choice of odds makers to win the championship next year. The Lakers are the second choice of odds makers. The fate of gamblers this season lies not as much with the players, but with the league labor situation.

If players and owners do not reach an agreement by July 1st, a lockout would be put in place. A lockout would threaten at a minimum, the length of the regular season next year. In the worst case scenario, the entire year could be lost to the labor unrest.

June 20, 2011
Posted By Vincent Tapoglia III
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
Submit News!

View the original article here

MLB Betting Not Working Out As Planned For Twins, Dodgers, Bettors

One of the bets that is popular at Las Vegas sports books before the Major League Baseball season begins is which teams will win their divisions. The sports books place odds on all teams based on how strong they look on paper, and gamblers can take their chances with whichever team they wish.

This season, two teams that were picked to be near the top of their divisions are in last place. That means that thousands of gamblers are holding betting slips that will end up in the garbage if the Los Angeles Dodgers and Minnesota Twins do not turn things around quickly.

The Twins have been perennial favorites to win the American League Central over the past decade, and this year was no different. Minnesota, along with Detroit and Chicago, were considered the favorites in 2011. Through the first two and a half months, Minnesota has played horrible baseball. The Twins are currently 10.5 games out of the division lead.

If Minnesota has shown anything over the past few seasons, it is that they can get hot when the summer months arrive. The Twins have not been a healthy bunch this year, with Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, and Joe Nathan all missing significant time due to injury. Mauer is expected back this week, and that is welcomed news for gamblers that are holding Twins division winner tickets.

In the National league, it has been the Los Angeles Dodgers that have been the biggest disappointment. The Dodgers are not in as bad a shape as Minnesota, mainly because nobody in the National league West has played very good baseball yet this year. The Dodgers are 7.5 games out of first, a lead that L.A. bettors hope dissolves over the next several months.

For all of the tough luck news there is this season so far for gamblers, there is also good news for those who bet the favorites. The San Francisco Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, Texas Rangers, and Boston Red Sox, all favorites to win their division before the year started, are sitting on top of their respective divisions.

Underdog gamblers also have reasons to be excited heading into the summer. Cleveland is in first place in the AL Central, while Arizona sits only two games behind the Giants in the NL West. In the NL Central, St. Louis, Milwaukee, and Cincinnati, all teams expected to compete for the division title, are first, second, and third, respectively, in the division.

June 11, 2011
Posted By Vincent Tapoglia III
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
Submit News!

View the original article here

NBA Finals Betting Preview: Series Shifts To Miami For Finale

The NBA Finals have played out much like many analysts had predicted, with neither team being able to sustain long winning streaks in the series. The Dallas Mavericks became the first team in the series to win two straight on Thursday, and it has them within one game of their first championship.

The story lines for this year's finals have centered around LeBron James, Dirk Nowitzki, and Dwyane Wade. Throw in Jason Terry's mouth and clutch performances in games four and five, and suddenly this NBA Finals has become as riveting as any in recent history, including last year's Lakers. Celtics, seven game battle.

Nowitzki has never been this close to a championship. The closest he had been before this year was back in 2006, when Wade and the Heat turned a 2-0 series deficit into a 4-2 series win. This time, Dallas is looking to turn the tables on Miami, coming back from a 2-1 deficit to hold their current 3-2 lead.

The NBA Finals are set up to reward the team with home court advantage, so basketball purists will say that the series has gone exactly as scripted, and that Miami should win the series by holding serve on their home court. The Mavericks, however, are not looking at it from that view.

Instead, Dallas players understand that they were the best road team in the playoffs this season, and they have already won one game in Miami earlier in this series. To do so again, the Mavericks will have to get the same type of production out of Terry as they have in the past two games.

The Heat will return home as betting favorites. Miami is favored by five points in game six. The total for the game is 187, staying consistent with the rest of the series' totals. In game five, the two teams exploded offensively, but with the series back in Miami, nobody is expecting another offensive performance like the one the teams put up on Thursday.

June 12, 2011
Posted By Vincent Tapoglia III
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
Submit News!

View the original article here

NBA Betting Preview: Heat Look To Move Bulls To The Brink

The Miami Heat came into this season as the most hated basketball team in the NBA. The Heat pulled off a summer slam last year when they signed Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, and Chris Bosh to long term contracts. With the Big Three in place, James predicted many titles for the Heat.

Early on in the season, Miami looked more like an expansion team than a world champion. As the season went on, Miami players started to gel, and by the time the playoffs rolled around, Miami had put it all together. Now, they find themselves only two wins from the NBA Finals, and NBA fans in other cities are on edge.

"I really hope this team falls apart down the stretch and loses," said Marc Hansley. "They are just so arrogant, and I couldn't stand having to hear their fans talk about how great they are all year. I am a big Bulls fan right now."

That anger is seen throughout the US. When James and his teammates joined forces and threw a party on South Beach last year, many saw that as arrogance. It may be James and Wade, however, that will get the last laugh, and their next party may be a celebration of an actual championship won.

Tonight, Chicago has their backs up against the wall. It is unlikely they can win three in a row against Miami, even with two of those games in Chicago. For the Bulls to win, they must play tougher defense than they did down the stretch in game three. Miami has still not loss at home in the playoffs this season.

Odds makers have made Miami the betting favorite for game four. The Heat are favored by five points. Sports books have again installed a low total of 179 for the game. The defenses in the series are considered to be two of the best in the league. The winner of this series could be on a collision course with Dallas, who has a 3-1 series lead in the Western Conference over Oklahoma City.

May 24, 2011
Posted By Vincent Tapoglia III
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
Submit News!

View the original article here

Rubio's Arrival To Alter NBA Betting Odds For Timberwolves

Look at any sports books' odds on the 2012 NBA season, and the Minnesota Timberwolves will be listed somewhere near, or at, the bottom. The Timberwolves have been the laughingstock of the league since they traded Kevin Garnett to the Boston Celtics.

In the time since that acquisition, the Celtics have vaulted to the top of the betting choices when it comes to winning a championship. Boston has already won one title with Garnett, and they came close two seasons ago when they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals.

Although Minnesota may still be in the lower half of the betting odds when the season starts, there will be reasons that underdog gamblers may take a chance on the T-Wolves. Ricky Rubio, the teams number one pick two seasons ago, has decided to leave Barcelona and head to the NBA. The guard is considered to be the best thing to arrive in Minnesota since Garnett.

In addition to Rubio, the Timberwolves have Kevin Love, perhaps the most dominant force on the boards in the NBA. With the combination of Love and Rubio, Minnesota fans can start getting excited enough to believe the team may be able to make a run for the playoffs as early as next season.

Minnesota will not vault to the top of the odds makers' list, with the Miami Heat, the Celtics, and the Lakers still holding down those positions. Defending champion Dallas is also considered a high choice to win back-to-back titles. That is, if there even is an NBA season this year. A lockout looms, and an abbreviated season could put a damper on gambling in 2012.

Sports books are facing their worst nightmare already this summer. If the NFL and its players cannot get together on a new collective bargaining agreement, the NFL lockout could force the elimination of games, causing sports books in Las Vegas to lose millions of dollars every week. The NBA faces a similar work stoppage, but NBA betting does not provide but a small fraction of wagering in Sin City compared to the NFL.

June 18, 2011
Posted By Vincent Tapoglia III
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
Submit News!

View the original article here

NBA Finals Betting Preview: Heat Favored, Mavericks Dangerous

The Miami Heat have been the betting favorite to win an NBA championship for nearly the entire season. When LeBron James and Chris Bosh signed on the dotted line to join forces with Dwyane Wade in Miami, odds makers immediately made the Heat the team to beat.

After a rough stretch early on caused them to lose their title of betting favorites, Miami has not looked back. They have been the best team in basketball for several months, and now they head to game one of the finals later tonight as the favorites to win the championship.

Their opponent, Dallas, is used to being in these situations. Dallas was an underdog in round two when they faced the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers. Dallas won that series in five games, and cruised through the Western Conference Finals against Oklahoma City.

The two teams' best players have something in common, neither has won a title. Dirk Nowitzki and James are two of the top five players in the game, but the title has eluded each in their careers. Over the next two weeks, one will have achieved their life-long goal, while the other will be left to ponder the question of when their time will come.

Miami holds the home court advantage in the finals due to their better overall record during the regular season. The Heat are also betting favorites for game one of the series. Miami is favored by 4.5 points, and the total for the game is 187. The two teams have combined to play some of the best defense in the playoffs thus far.

The playoff runs of Miami and Dallas is eerily similar. The Heat and Mavericks have both went 12-3 this post season. Dallas has won one more game on the road, and Miami one more at home. The Heat have not lost at home during this year's playoffs.

Game one is scheduled for 9 PM tonight, with game two on Thursday. The series will then shift to Dallas for the middle three games, and head back to Miami for games six and seven, if necessary.

May 31, 2011
Posted By Vincent Tapoglia III
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
Submit News!

View the original article here

Florida Marlins Giving Gamblers Fits With Two Wins In June

The Florida Marlins are showing gamblers in the month of June why it is not a wise betting choice to keep chasing bad money. The Marlins lost again on Friday, and with five games left in June, Florida has just two wins in the month.

Conventional wisdom of some baseball gamblers is that long winning and losing streaks must come to an end. That has not been the case for the Marlins in June, and any gambler that has subscribed to the aforementioned theory has given Las Vegas sports books plenty of money this month.

A month ago, Florida was one of the feel-good story's in the league. They were just a few games behind Philadelphia in the National league East, and they had reasons to believe they would be in the wild card race through the end of the season. Then the calendar turned to June. The month that ushers in summer has given the Marlins and their fans a lesson in humility.

During June, Florida has had separate losing streaks of eight and eleven games. Their two wins came eleven days apart, and now with only five games left in June, the Marlins must win a couple of games to avoid having the worst month ever. In the meantime, gamblers have continued to place money on the team with the expectation that the losing must stop eventually.

During their long losing streak, Manager Edwin Rodriguez stepped down. The front office then dug into their history vault and pulled out Jack McKeon. The eighty-year-old manager has not been on the bench since his last stint with the Marlins, but management felt he was the right man to help turn around the team's fortunes.

McKeon brought his fiery personality to the clubhouse on day one, benching shortstop Hanley Ramirez. The all-star has responded well, but it has not translated into victories for Florida. The Marlins have two games left against Seattle, before finishing the month off with three games in Oakland.

June 25, 2011
Posted By Vincent Tapoglia III
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
Submit News!

View the original article here

PGA Golf Betting In Limbo While Tiger Woods Continues Hiatus

Tiger Woods was once so dominant on the PGA Tour that he had almost even odds in some tournaments he entered. In an individual sport, it is rare to see any participant with betting odds of less than 4/1, if only because of the amount of players competing each week.

Las Vegas sports books experienced some of the biggest bets ever on golf while Woods was dominating the tour. High rollers would come into Vegas, and even if they had no idea where the golf tournaments were being held that week, they knew Woods had a chance to win.

Times have changed, however, since Woods ran his SUV into a tree on Thanksgiving night two years ago. The most popular athlete on the planet at the time, Woods has since become a shell of his old self o the golf course. His endorsement deals have run dry after he admitted to having numerous affairs on his wife, and no longer are gamblers flocking to betting windows to place action on the world's best golfer.

On Tuesday, Woods finally acknowledged his own mortality. For years, fans thought that Woods' body was indestructible, and that his mind was stronger than any injury. Over the past year, that has proven to be untrue.

"Usually I set a timetable when I want to come back and play when I've had injuries before," said Woods, holding a press conference at his own tournament, the AT&T National. Woods will not be playing in the event due to an injury he has been battling for months, and he explained why this time, he will not rush back.

"This one is different. I'm going to learn my lesson from what I did at The Players and apply it this time and come back when I'm 100 percent. I don't know when that's going to be. That's kind of the frustrating thing about it right now is I don't know."

Admitting defeat to injury is something new to Woods. Back when he was at the height of his game, he won the US Open on a broken leg. That performance was the last of the heroic days for Woods. Now, fans will sit and wait for their fallen hero to return and save golf. Until that day, sports books will have to rely on other sports to bring gamblers to the windows.

June 29, 2011
Posted By Vincent Tapoglia III
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
Submit News!

View the original article here

NFL Bettors Hoping Owners And Players Reach An Agreement Soon

The NFL is aware of the possibility that the league will lose millions of dollars should the owners lockout spill into the season, even the preseason games. That is why the players and owners are working diligently on a new collective bargaining agreement.

On the outside, it is the fans, mainly the gambling fans, that will be watching closely the next couple of weeks. If a deal is not struck by around Independence Day, preseason games would be compromised. While gamblers do not place a big emphasis on the preseason, it is a time when they start considering their betting strategy.

In past years, Las Vegas sports books have made hundreds of millions of dollars each season on the NFL. The sports books are part of a Las Vegas gaming industry that has seen revenue drop consistently in double digits for many months over the past several years.

The economic recession caused a sharp decrease in Las Vegas visitors, and it was only the past couple of months when gamblers started to return to Sin City. With the World Series of Poker helping the casinos and sports books survive the summer, it is the NFL that is being counted on to carry the Fall.

Today, sources revealed the latest offers on the table from the owners. It would give the players around forty-eight percent of the total revenue of the league. That is a sharp decrease from the last collective bargaining agreement, and it is a number that many analysts believe the players will turn away.

Part of the proposal would include a sixteen week Thursday nigh schedule. The Thursday night games became popular among bettors after the NFL started to play games mid-week, and that popularity has left owners wanting more. The television deal associated with the sixteen game Thursday schedule would make up for some of the revenue that would be lost at the negotiating table.

June 21, 2011
Posted By Vincent Tapoglia III
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
Submit News!

View the original article here

NFL Players May Lose Millions From Alabama Gambling Trial

NFL players throw their money into many different businesses with the hopes of recouping a large profit. Over two dozen current and former players allegedly invested their money in a gambling operation set to open later this month in Alabama.

The player invested in Center Stage, formerly Country Crossings. The latter's developer, Ronnie Gilley, has leaded guilty to bribery charges stemming from an electronic bingo bill that was drafted in the state Senate. The bill would have authorized voters to decide the gaming issue in Alabama.

The NFL players, some of who are said to have invested upwards of $7 million in the renovation project, could be in jeopardy of losing more than just their money. The league is looking into whether the players broke NFL rules by being associated with a gaming operation.

The casino that will house electronic bingo machines, is only a small part of the facility. Also included in the complex will be shops, restaurants, festival space, and a water park. The issue of whether the casino portion of the facility will even be legal is being questioned by many, including the attorney general in Alabama.

AG Luther Strange has issued a strong directive to the gaming community that he will be keeping a close eye on any gaming halls that open. The AG has eliminated former Governor Robert Riley's Task Force on Illegal Gambling, but that does not mean he is open to the idea of gaming halls re-opening with illegal gambling machines.

The players could face fines and suspensions should NFL officials find them to be in violation of the league's rules on gambling. With the future of the gaming facility in doubt, and a return on their investment possibly years away, and suspensions or fines would be an additional penalty for the players that have invested in Center Stage.

"If it were to be determined that an NFL employee had made an investment in violation of league policy on gambling-related activities, that individual would be directed to withdraw the investment and it would be reviewed for potential discipline," said NFL Spokesman Greg Aiello, as reported by Yahoo! Sports.

Among the players who are said to be involved in the investment are Santana Moss, Terrell Owens, Santonio Holmes, Adalius Thomas, and Gerald Warren.

June 17, 2011
Posted By Vincent Tapoglia III
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
Submit News!

View the original article here

Gold Cup Betting Odds: Mexico Favored Over US At Rose Bowl

The US and Mexico have squared off in many International soccer battles over the years, and another will take place this evening in California. The legendary Rose Bowl will be the site of the Gold Cup final.

The two teams have reached the final in completely different fashion. Mexico blew through the group stage, having no trouble at all. The American squad struggled, losing to Panama in the group stage, and then avenging that loss while not playing well later in the tournament.

Mexico has been installed as the betting favorite for the final game, although it is by the slimmest of margins. The Mexican team has odds of +135. The US carries odds of +185, meaning that no matter which team wins, gamblers will be gaining a positive price for each $100 they wager.

Already during the Gold Cup there have been rumors about the integrity of some of the matches. Mexico had two wins over opponents that are under suspicion of possible match fixing associated with Asian gambling interests. In Asia, there have been several allegations of impropriety's in recent years involving the game of soccer.

Mexico and the US are heated rivals, and this game will be even more heated with what is at stake. The winner of the CONCACAF Gold Cup final will earn an automatic birth into the 2013 Confederations Cup. A victory in that tournament would move the winning team closer to a World Cup Birth.

The US team has been criticized for their play so far in the Gold Cup. The past two games, Landon Donovan, argumentatively the US' best player, has been out of the starting lineup. Donovan did come on in the US' semi-final win, and helped the team to victory. Donovan is expected to be back in the lineup this evening in Pasadena.

June 25, 2011
Posted By Vincent Tapoglia III
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
Submit News!

View the original article here

Cavaliers Looking To Make Good On Gilbert Gamble Through NBA Draft

NBA fans have one last major event to look forward to before a possible lockout threatens the entire 2012 season. The amateur draft takes place this evening, and fans will be watching closely as their teams make selections that could change the balance of power in the league.

Last summer, when the Cleveland Cavaliers lost LeBron James to free agency, owner Dan Gilbert made the bold statement that his team, depleted by the loss of the league's best player, would win a title before The King did. That proclamation almost was dispelled in the first year of James' contract with the Miami Heat.

The Heat ended up losing in the NBA Finals to Dallas, and it left Gilbert still clinging to his bold prediction. The first step towards realizing that prediction takes place tonight, when the Cavaliers make their picks at number one and four in the draft. The stroke of luck Gilbert has had in securing the first and fourth picks gives Cleveland fans a reason to hope.

The Cavaliers have already decided that they will select Duke guard Kyrie Irving with the top pick. From there, it is any gamblers bet as to who falls to Cleveland at number four. The Cavs had entertained the idea of taking Derrick Williams number one overall, and then hoping Irving fell to number four.

In the end, Cleveland decided in Irving in the top spot, making it unlikely they will land Williams. There is always the option of trading the fourth pick for a veteran star that could help Irving grow, while giving the Cavs a chance to win next season. That possibility seems remote as Cleveland officials have said on Wednesday they would keep both the first and fourth picks.

James' Heat join the Los Angeles Lakers as teams that do not have a first round pick. The Lakers and Heat are currently the betting favorites to win the NBA title next season, assuming the lockout does not end the season before it starts. Miami is the top pick of odds makers, with L.A. in the second position.

June 23, 2011
Posted By Vincent Tapoglia III
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
Submit News!

View the original article here

Detroit Tigers Give Gamblers A Reason To Take A Deep Breath

Coming into the season, the Detroit Tigers were a team that odds makers made one of the betting favorites to win the American League Central. Early on, Detroit struggled, much to the chagrin of gamblers who had placed bets before the year at Las Vegas sports books.

Tuesday, those gamblers took a big deep breath after the Tigers reclaimed the top spot in the division from the Cleveland Indians. The Indians had been the feel good story in the seasons first two months, but have struggled mightily in June. Justin Verlander became the latest pitcher to carve up the Indians lineup on Tuesday night.

Verlander has been one of the best pitchers in baseball for several years now, and he was one of the reasons that odds makers were high on the Tigers this season. Verlander has already thrown two no-hitters in his career, and on Tuesday he flirted with history once again.

Eventually, Cleveland broke through and got a hit off Verlander, but the Tigers ace was able to complete the job and move Detroit back into first place. The Tigers, White Sox, and Twins have all been hot in recent weeks, but Detroit did not have as big of a hole to dig out of as the other two teams.

Cleveland, meanwhile, has had underdog gamblers giddy with their play in 2011. Their young talent was melding well with the veterans, and analysts believed the Indians could have been for real. The pitching has remained strong through their recent slump, while the offense has been nearly non-existent.

Shin-Soo Choo and Carlos Santana were being counted on to do much of the heavy lifting for Cleveland, and neither has performed up to the expected level. Choo has struggled after receiving a DUI, and Santana has yet to find a groove at the plate. Despite the rough stretch, the Indians had held on to first place until Tuesday.

Minnesota received good and bad news on Tuesday. Joe Mauer is close to returning from the disabled list. The move will amount to nothing more than a switch of great players, with Justin Morneau heading to the DL with a wrist injury.

June 15, 2011
Posted By Vincent Tapoglia III
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
Submit News!

View the original article here

Women's World Cup Betting Underway: Germany Favored

The women's FIFA World Cup got under way on Sunday morning in Germany, and the rest of the world will be keeping a close eye on the host team. Germany not only will be playing at home for the duration of the World Cup, but they are also the betting favorite to repeat as champions.

The US team has long been considered to be the standard by which other squads are judged, and that may be the case again by the end of the tournament. Going in, however, it is the German team, and not the number one team in the world, that odds makers believe has the best chance of capturing the cup.

Germany has odds ranging from +180 to +200, depending on the Las Vegas sports book. Germany won it all four years ago, and it signaled a changing of the guard, and the idea that the rest of the world was catching up to the Americans. The US is not even the second choice this year.

That honor goes to Brazil. The Brazilian club has been considered to be the most talented bunch the past decade, but they were unable to capture the cup four years ago. Brazil currently has odds of +550 to finally complete their mission of winning soccer's biggest event.

The US team is only slightly behind the Brazilians, with odds of +600. After the top three, all other countries are considered long shots to hoist the cup. The next closest country in terms of betting odds is Sweden, at 15/1. France, another team looking to pull a minor upset, is a 22/1 choice.

On Sunday, the German squad showed that they would not look past any opponent when they defeated Canada in Berlin 2-1. The win gives Germany a leg up in their group, and a strong chance to advance past the group stage. The US team will begin their quest for the cup on Tuesday, when they face North Korea.

In the first game of the 2011 Women's World Cup, France defeated Nigeria. That left Germany and France tied with three points each after the first round of games in Group A.

June 26, 2011
Posted By Vincent Tapoglia III
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
Submit News!

View the original article here

Despite Finals Loss, Heat Again The NBA Betting Favorites For 2012

The Miami Heat were the betting favorites to win the 2011 NBA Championship the minute they assembled Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, and Chris Bosh, last summer. Bettors who took their chances on the short odds of the Heat, had to rip up their tickets on Sunday night when Dallas defeated Miami.

Now, less than twenty-four hours after their finals loss, the Heat will again have the pressure of being the favorites heading to next season. Miami has been installed as 2/1 betting favorites for 2012, assuming there is a 2012 season at all.

With a lock out looming and players and owners, by all accounts, far apart in negotiations, it seems unlikely that a full schedule will be played next year. That could work to the advantage of both Miami and Dallas, the two teams that finished their 2011 season playing into mid-June.

As for the rest of the league, the Los Angeles Lakers are still the darlings of NBA bettors. Las Vegas sports books have the Lakers as the third choice, along with Oklahoma City and the now-defending champion Mavericks. The three teams are all listed at 7/1. L.A. will try to return to the finals without Phil Jackson on the bench, as the legendary coach has retired following last season.

The Chicago Bulls have the reigning league MVP in Derek Rose, and they are young and hungry after losing to the Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals. Chicago is the second choice of odds makers, with odds of 6/1. The Bulls had the best record in the NBA this past season.

The list of odds includes several other perennial contenders. The Boston Celtics have odds of 8/1, while Orlando is 20/1, and the Knicks 30/1, in the East. Out West, San Antonio is a 15/1 choice, and Portland and Denver come in at 30/1. Other playoff teams this past year, New Orleans and Memphis are 40/1 choices, while Atlanta is 50/1 and Philadelphia is 60/1.

June 13, 2011
Posted By Vincent Tapoglia III
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
Submit News!

View the original article here

Dodgers Bankruptcy Filing Not Having Much Affect On Gamblers

The Los Angeles Dodgers' owner situation has been up in the air for the entire season so far, and on Monday it took another ugly turn. The Dodgers filed for bankruptcy protection, ensuring that the battle with Major League Baseball will go on for a longer period of time.

The Dodgers' decision to file for bankruptcy was not met with kind words from the commissioner's office. Bud Selig blocked an agreement between the Dodgers and Fox last week, and it appeared to be the last straw for owner Frank McCourt. The owner had hoped the deal would give the Dodgers the money necessary to make payroll for the rest of the year.

The bankruptcy filing did not have much impact on the sports betting world. Sports books in Las Vegas continued to take action on Los Angeles on Monday afternoon, before the Dodgers scheduled game with Minnesota. Gamblers were walking in and out of the sports books with a business-as-usual look.

What has had an impact on bettors' decisions this season is the Dodgers play on the field. L.A. has been largely a disappointment, with one of the best young lineups in baseball, the team was expected to compete for the National league West title. Instead, they have hovered near the bottom of the standings for most of the year.

Clayton Kershaw is one of the best pitchers in baseball, and normally he would be a Cy Young award candidate with the season he is having. His team, however, has not backed Kershaw up on days when he was not on the mound, and it has some questioning whether Don Mattingly was the right choice as the team's manager.

With all the focus on the ownership situation, Mattingly has been able to fly under the radar with his team's poor start. Instead of answering questions about his futile bullpen or his team's untimely hitting, Mattingly was speaking Monday of how the bankruptcy situation has, or has not, affected the team.

L.A. was expected to miss payroll on Thursday, but the bankruptcy will buy the team some time. Analysts now believe that the situation revolving around ownership could be muddled until the end of the season and possible into the winter.

June 28, 2011
Posted By Vincent Tapoglia III
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
Submit News!

View the original article here