http://freebetbookmaker.com/free-bets/news_blog en gareth.cartman@gmail.com Copyright 2008 2008-11-13T19:22:00+00:00 http://freebetbookmaker.com/free-bets/content/news_blog/betting_on_im_a_celebrity/ http://freebetbookmaker.com/free-bets/content/news_blog/betting_on_im_a_celebrity/#When:19:22:00Z Who the hell is Joe Swash? I’ve never heard of him and I doubt he’d even get a gig doing panto at Norwich Theatre. No, they’re not celebs. But still, they’re getting tortured and you can bet on them. So winning money AND seeing celebrities get tortured - bingo!  Let's get one thing straight - I hate reality TV and I hate this I'm a Celebrity thing. In fact, I hate celebrities. They're all cocks. So when it comes to watching celebrities get tortured in the jungle, I'm actually quite interested. Mind you, if any of them were celebrities, then that would be a start, but who the sweet crap is Joe Swash? I've never bloody heard of him. Anyway... Joe Swash is bookie var uri = 'http://impgb.tradedoubler.com/imp?type(js)g(11380431)a(1511557)' + new String (Math.random()).substring (2, 11); document.write(''); ’s 4/1 favourite to be crowned King of the Jungle in this year’s I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here. The former Eastenders star heads the early betting with Esther Rantzen just behind as this year’s stalking horse at 5/1. Despite their looks the WAGs seldom perform well in reality TV shows and Paddy Power rates Nicola McLean as the 16/1 outsider with Carly Zucker performing little better at 12/1.   Sharon McHugh, Paddy Power’s showbiz betting expert, said: “Joe ticks all the boxes with his happy-go lucky personality, outgoing nature and appeal to the ladies and is already attracting the early bets. “He looks the one to beat although we do have a sneaky suspicion that, like Jan Leeming, Esther Rantzen could go far as the public’s choice as this year’s victim of repeated bushtucker trial humiliations.” Meanwhile this year’s jungle “Totty Factor” rates page three girl Nicola McLean the unsurprising favourite at 10/11 to be the first girl to go topless followed by Carly Zucker at 9/4. Esther Rantzen is the cold-shivering 25/1 outsider. I’m A Celebrity Winner   4/1      Joe Swash   5/1      Esther Ranzten   6/1      Simon Webbe   6/1      George Takei   8/1      Martina Navratilova   8/1      Brian Paddick 10/1      Robert Kilroy Silk 12/1      Carly Zucker 16/1      Dani Behr                       20/1      Nicola McLean 1st to go topless? 10/11     Nicola    9/4      Carly    3/1      Dani  16/1      Martina  25/1      Esther Paddy Power Jungle Specials   1/4        Simon Webbe to last longer in the jungle than Anthony Costa (5th or higher)   6/4        Any celeb to vomit during a live Bushtucker trial   9/4        Any one of the female celebrities to appear topless Live on 'I'm a Celebrity'.    5/2        Esther Ranzten to successfully eat a kangaroos balls in any bushtucker trial   3/1        Any contestant to faint during a bush tucker trial    8/1        Nicola McLean to have a wardrobe malfunction during any live bushtucker camp trial 18/1        Any camp member to complain about George Takei (Sulu) leaving a klingon in the camp toilet       25/1        Brian Paddick to smoke a joint in camp Who will the public choose 1st for a Bush tucker Trial?   4/1       Nicola McLean   5/1       Esther Ranzten   6/1       Brian Paddick   6/1       Martina Navratilova   7/1       Carly Zucker   7/1       Joe Swash   8/1       Robert Kilroy Silk   8/1       Dani Behr                        8/1       Simon Webbe 10/1       George Takei 2008-11-13T19:22:00+00:00 http://freebetbookmaker.com/free-bets/content/news_blog/new_autralian_cricket_captain_michael_clarke/ http://freebetbookmaker.com/free-bets/content/news_blog/new_autralian_cricket_captain_michael_clarke/#When:19:17:00Z 9/2 says that Michael Clarke will lead out Australia at Cardiff next summer - and Ricky Ponting’s hangdog face will not. Well, let’s face it, the Aussies were awful in India and they’re very much a side in decline, denied the likes of Warne and McGrath.  var uri = 'http://impgb.tradedoubler.com/imp?type(img)g(17535392)a(1511557)' + new String (Math.random()).substring (2, 11); document.write(''); Following Australia’s defeat to India this week bookie Paddy Power has opened betting on who will captain their side for the First Ashes Test against England in 2009. The Aussie’s 2-0 defeat to India, their first series defeat by more than one Test since the late 80s, has seen widespread criticism of captain Ricky Ponting – even from his own countrymen.  The Aussie skipper was accused of failing to put victory ahead of the threat of a one-match ban by bowling second rate bowlers in the Fourth Test defeat to prevent a slow over rate. Whilst the man known as Punter remains just 1/6 with Paddy Power to captain Australia for the First Ashes Test in Cardiff next summer, the fact a book has been opened at all suggests all is not well. Long-time captain in-waiting Michael Clarke is 9/2 second favourite with the man known as ‘Mr Cricket’ Michael Hussey at 16/1. Shane Warne, whose captaincy skills are almost as renowned as his love of pizza, is 100/1 for a sensational comeback to lead the Baggy Greens. Darren Haines, spokesman for Paddy Power, said: “A legendary batsman undoubtedly, but Ponting’s captaincy has crumbled more than once under pressure as we saw in India this week and The Ashes in 2005. It’s very easy to captain a winning team but Ponting’s captaincy fails to make a difference when it really matters – and the first few punts have now come in against Punter.” My own personal choice would be Michael Clarke - if, of course, Ricky Ponting fails to make it through the Australian summer. And as we're having a bet, then Clarke it is. The middle-order batsman has the class and the cool head to lead the Australians out of a poor patch - but whether he'll have the support is another thing. England are good value for next summer's Ashes. Australian Captain For First Ashes Test 1/6        Ricky Ponting 9/2        Michael Clarke 12/1      Brett Lee 16/1      Michael Hussey 28/1      Simon Katich 28/1      Matthew Hayden 33/1      Shane Watson 50/1      Andrew Symonds 100/1    Shane Warne 200/1    Adam Gilchrist   Ashes 2009 Latest 9/4        England 5/1        Draw 8/13      Australia   2008-11-13T19:17:00+00:00 http://freebetbookmaker.com/free-bets/content/news_blog/gay_betting_from_paddy_power/ http://freebetbookmaker.com/free-bets/content/news_blog/gay_betting_from_paddy_power/#When:19:09:00Z Boyzone’s dodgy new video seems to have spurred Paddy Power into overdrive, with a host of new odds about same-sex marriage being made legal in Ireland. That Stephen Gately has a lot to answer for. Find out more… Crazy, really, but Paddy Power are now offering odds on same sex marriage being made legal in Ireland. What seemed to spark the flurry of odds from the Irish bookie was Boyzone's new video in which Stephen Gately is seen in a steamy clinch with a male model. That seems to have sparked more debate amongst punters over just when 'Civil Unions' or same sex marriage will be passed in Ireland. They're also offering a bet 10 get 20 free bet. Paddy Power are offering just 10/11 that the first Civil Union will take place in Ireland next year, while it's now 4/1 that same-sex marriage will be recognised in Ireland in the next 6 years (before 2015). The move from Ireland's top bookie comes just one day after Cardinal Sean Brady controversially suggested Ireland should ban same-sex marriages, like California. Currently the Republic of Ireland does not recognise civil unions or same sex marriages but a bill for Registered Civil Partnerships is underway, after Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern set the wheels in motion earlier this year. The bookie is also betting on which high profile Irish gay celebrity will say it loud and proud and get hitched first when the Act is eventually passed. Westlife's Mark Feehily is their 3/1 favourite followed by a few other high profile names such as Big Brother's Brian Dowling at 6/1 and singer Brian Kennedy at 12/1. Sharon McHugh, spokesperson for Paddy Power said: "Boyzone have made history by being the first boy band to feature a homosexual couple in a video and if the odds are anything to go by it might not be long before the ban on gay marriage is made history too!" When will the first official state registered 'Civil Union' take place in Ireland? 10/11    2009   11/8    2010     4/1    2011 or later Will a referendum take place on same-sex marriage before 2015?        1/4    No     5/2    Yes Same Sex Marriage       4/1     Same Sex Marriage to be legalised in Ireland before 2015 1st 'Gay Union' in Ireland will be between? 8/11      Two Women  Evs      Two Men 12/1      Two Transgender First Irish gay celebrity to get hitched   3/1      Mark Feehily   6/1      Brian Dowling   6/1      Declan Buckley   8/1      Anna Nolan   8/1      Brendan Courtney 10/1      Graham Norton 12/1      Brian Kennedy 2008-11-13T19:09:00+00:00 http://freebetbookmaker.com/free-bets/content/news_blog/who_will_liverpool_sell_first_if_the_banks_call_in_the_money/ http://freebetbookmaker.com/free-bets/content/news_blog/who_will_liverpool_sell_first_if_the_banks_call_in_the_money/#When:22:26:00Z Paddy Power are offering odds on the first player to be sold in the Anfield fire sale - should the banks call in the money. Jermaine Pennant is the evens money favourite, and you’ll get a free bet worth double your deposit if you sign up today. var uri = 'http://impgb.tradedoubler.com/imp?type(img)g(16492912)a(1511557)' + new String (Math.random()).substring (2, 11); document.write(''); If you're not a Liverpool fan, then the idea that they could be in trouble with the banks will have you chuckling. But as we warned a month or so ago, the thought of a Premiership club going under is not so far fetched. So what of the fire sale at Anfield? Jermaine Pennant is the evens money favourite with bookie Paddy Power to be the first player sold by Liverpool FC as the global credit crunch begins to bite. With suggestions from football finance expert Keith Harris that a number of clubs, including Liverpool, are coming under pressure from growing debts and cash-starved Banks wanting their money back, speculation is mounting on who might be sacrificed to meet costs at Liverpool. However, one man often said to be a target for the likes of Chelsea and now Manchester City - Spanish striker Fernando Torres – is rated a 22/1 outsider by Paddy Power to be the first out of the door. Pennant, who continues to look a peripheral player at Anfield, is followed in the betting by former Juventus target Xavi Alonso at 11/2 with Daniel Agger 15/2. Local boys Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher are the 25/1 outsiders. Darren Haines, spokesman for Paddy Power, said: “As the Torres transfer fee largely came from borrowed cash there is a theory he could be a likely candidate to be sold, especially given the transfer fee Fernando would command. But we don’t believe Liverpool will be selling their crown jewels anytime soon, making the likes of Torres and Gerrard safe in our eyes.” First Player To Be Sold By Liverpool Evs       Pennant 11/2      Alonso 15/2      Agger   11/1      Babel  12/1      Kuyt  12/1      Mascherano  16/1      Keane  16/1      Skrtel  22/1      Torres 25/1      Gerrard 25/1      Carragher  2008-11-12T22:26:00+00:00 http://freebetbookmaker.com/free-bets/content/news_blog/harry_redknapp_spurs_arsenal_odds/ http://freebetbookmaker.com/free-bets/content/news_blog/harry_redknapp_spurs_arsenal_odds/#When:18:33:00Z Harry Redknapp will no doubt have a major effect on Spurs - but not so quickly - they have to go to Arsenal next and 13/2 is perhaps about right. Don’t take it, but go for Everton at Bolton instead, 7/4 with Stan James. document.write( ''); What a change a manager can make. While Tottenham are clearly not out of the woods yet, they do seem to have sorted their heads out. Daniel Levy has finally come to his senses and realised that having an idiot in charge of transfer policy (sell, sell, sell - oh and spend it all on just two players) is numbskullery of the highest order and dispensed of the 'continental' system. And who - in the whole wide diaspora of British football - has ever succeeded with a 'continental' management system? Not bloody Spurs, that's for sure, who, barring the odd cup win here and there, have barely scratched the surface of the Premiership since its inception. With Harry in charge, they will surely head back up the league with a dose of common sense here and a dash of bravado there. However, the number of people lumping on Spurs to win at Arsenal in midweek is just madness of the Daniel Levy style. And what of Ramos? He's likely to head back to Spain where he will no doubt be given a job at the first opportunity. I feel sorry for Juande - I remember writing an article for the much-revered Daily Shame a year ago saying that Spurs were already searching for his replacement (just before his job was confirmed). How true it sometimes is of the short-sighted Spurs. Ramos was the victim of that prat Comolli who decided to sell all three of his strikers and replace them with just one; the man who decided to sell Steed Malbranque and not buy a left-sided player to replace him. Ramos, of course, is responsible for results, and he admits that in a results-based game, he ultimately must pay for them. But he wasn't fully in control. So what of Pompey? They'll be feeling rudderless without Harry in charge and the talk of Sam Allardyce coming in should be reassuring, but knowing fickle fans, it might not be. Big Sam is a top coach who was hard done to by another bunch of idiots at Newcastle - and sorry, but they deserve everything they get, and they didn't deserve Allardyce. If they can get him in by midweek, then Pompey might put up a good fight at Anfield - where the draw would be good value. The top bet this midweek has to be Everton at 7/4 to beat Bolton - that's great value for a team that suddenly remembered how to fight. Everton do turnarounds very well - think Kevin Brock's backpass at Oxford - think Joe Royle's dogs of war - and then think Marouane Fellaini's header against Manchester United. Everton woke up and showed that they're not a bunch of hapless goal-leaking girls. They don't have a bad record at the Reebok so they're good value for a midweek win. Sunderland are also 7/4 to win at Stoke - as most teams seem to be capable of doing this season - and after their morale-boosting win over Newcastle, they're a side very much on the up. Stan James is also offering a £25 free bet on the midweek football if you sign up today... Free £25 bet! document.write( ''); 2008-10-26T18:33:00+00:00 http://freebetbookmaker.com/free-bets/content/news_blog/i_hate_eurovision_but_i_hate_andrew_lloyd_webber_even_more/ http://freebetbookmaker.com/free-bets/content/news_blog/i_hate_eurovision_but_i_hate_andrew_lloyd_webber_even_more/#When:16:51:00Z I can’t stand Eurovision (but I still watch it), but the real target for my vitriol today is Andrew Lloyd Weber, that arch tosspot who pretends he’s laughing at himself, but you know that he’s really laughing at you. Gaaaah I hate him. I don't know about you, but I bloody hate the Eurovision song contest. But I still watch it. I know, I know - I knock everything about trash TV and reality and all that celebrity rubbish that people seem to lap up like hungry dogs in this country, but Eurovision - well, I tend to watch it. So what the bloody hell is Andrew Lloyd Bloody Webber doing? He's going to compose next year's entry? So bloody what! And the cheek of the weird-looking freak to think that he can ponce around on TV with his own Prime-Ministerial announcement to say that he's looking for someone to sing it. Oh hang on, is this another reality show? You got it, folks. Kevin Spacey wasn't wrong when he said that those Joseph and Maria programmes were nothing but promotion for Lloyd Webber's own musicals and that they were distracting from other shows being put on without the extravagant Saturday night promotion. The poor guy even had to apologise for making these comments. But Lloyd Webber's back on our screens in his stupid chair, "playing it up" (which is BBC speak for he's acting like a dick, which is what he is, but we're all going to laugh at it and so is he, on the outside). I've never liked the po-faced little shit and I won't hide it. As you can no doubt see. I once had to sit through Phantom of the Opera, one of the most turgid three hours I have ever spent, and I still regret the fact that I will never get those hours back. He is responsible for that. He is responsible for those awful shows with my own football club's chairman dicking around on a Saturday night instead of running the football club which is what he should be doing. He is responsible for a nation believing that they have a chance of performing in a West End stage show while the truth is he made his decision at the start. Or is that too controversial? The idiot. Anyway, the only upside to this is that Paddy Power are offering odds on the whole Eurovision shindig, which we'll probably lose anyway, even though they're reverting back to a jury system (well, half jury - half telephone voting) in an attempt to block every Eastern European country from voting from Russia. Actually, the only reason they do that is because they think that by voting for the Russian singer, they won't get invaded. Didn't do Georgia much bloody good, did it? Ukraine, good luck... It'll take more than a blonde tart in a miniskirt to stop the Russkies. I digress. Here are the odds: Eurovision 2009     9/1    The UK to win the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest   40/1    The UK to finish last in next year’s Eurovision 100/1    The UK to receive nil points from every voting country in next year’s Eurovision     3/1    The UK song choice to reach No.1 on the UK singles charts in 2009 Bet 10 pounds on Eurovision and Paddy Power will actually give you 20 pounds as a free bet. 2008-10-20T16:51:00+00:00 http://freebetbookmaker.com/free-bets/content/news_blog/will_spurs_actually_get_relegated/ http://freebetbookmaker.com/free-bets/content/news_blog/will_spurs_actually_get_relegated/#When:16:32:00Z Bookies are offering odds of 10/3 against Spurs going down - and that’s a massive drop, indicating that something really is wrong at Three Point Lane (as all opposing fans call it). So will they? All that and all the latest odds from our favourite “bet 10 get 20” bookie. var uri = 'http://impgb.tradedoubler.com/imp?type(js)g(17464372)a(1511557)' + new String (Math.random()).substring (2, 11); document.write(''); Following the weekend action and wins for the big four teams there is little or no change in the odds for the title race with Chelsea maintaining their favourites tag with Paddy Power at 10/11.  Man United are next best at 15/8. The race for relegation is much more wide open with Stoke’s home victory over Spurs leaving Paddy Power feeling a little uneasy about their decision to pay out after just one game on Stoke to be relegated.  Spurs fans are equally worried that their team’s relegation odds have tumbled from 7/1 to just 10/3. In the Heineken Cup both Munster and Leinster threw down a gauntlet and look to be in comfortable positions.  They have shortened in the betting to 9/2 and 11/2 respectively behind Toulouse who remain 10/3 favourites. There’s Champions League action to look forward to this week, the highlight of the round is Man Utd at home to Celtic. Premier League Winner 10/11    Chelsea 15/8      Man Utd 13/2      Liverpool 9/1        Arsenal 125/1    Man City Premier League Relegation 2/7        Stoke 11/8      West Brom 15/8      Bolton 11/5      Hull 12/5      Fulham 3/1        Newcastle 10/3      Tottenham 11/2      West Ham 6/1        Wigan 15/2      Sunderland   Champions League Winner 9/2        Chelsea                        20/1      Bayern Munich 11/2      Man Utd                        20/1      Juventus 13/2      Barcelona                     22/1      Athletico Madrid 7/1        Inter Milan                     25/1      Villareal 10/1      Real Madrid                  28/1      Roma 11/1      Arsenal                         33/1      Lyon 11/1      Liverpool                      50/1      or bigger the rest   Champions League Winning Nation 11/10    England                        14/1      Any other 9/4        Spain                            16/1      Germany 4/1        Italy                              25/1      France   This Weeks Champions League Matches Tuesday Home Draw Away Man Utd v Celtic 3/10 4/1 10/1 Fenerbahce v Arsenal 14/5 23/10 Evs Zenit St. Petersburg v BATE 2/7 4/1 11/1 Villareal v AAB Aalborg 1/5 5/1 14/1 Bayern Munich v Fiorentina 4/5 12/5 14/5 Steaua Bucharest v Lyon 12/5 11/5 6/5 Porto v Dynamo Kiev 4/7 11/4 11/2 Juventus v Real Madrid 6/4 11/5 15/8                   Wednesday Home Draw Away Chelsea v Roma 8/15 11/4 16/1 Athletico Madrid v Liverpool 6/4 9/4 9/5 Bordeaux v CFR Cluj 8/11 5/2 4/1 Inter Milan v Famagusta 1/6 11/2 18/1 Panathanaikos v Werder Bremen 9/5 23/10 6/4 Shak. Donetsk v Sporting Lisbon Evs 9/4 3/1 Basel v Barcelona 6/1 3/1 1/2 PSV v Marseille 7/5 9/4 19/10                   Heineken Cup Update 10/3      Toulouse                                   40/1      Biarritz 9/2        Munster                                    40/1      Perpignan 9/2        Stade Francais                          40/1      Cermont 11/2      Leinster                                     200/1    Edinburgh 11/1      Leicester                                   300/1    Scarlets 14/1      Bath                                         1000/1  Montauban 16/1      Cardiff                                      1000/1  Dragons 18/1      Ospreys                                    1000/1  Ulster 22/1      Gloucester                                1000/1  Glasgow 25/1      Harlequins 33/1      Sale 33/1      Wasps 2008-10-20T16:32:00+00:00 http://freebetbookmaker.com/free-bets/content/news_blog/betting_tips_for_the_weekend_and_hamilton_odds_for_the_china_gp/ http://freebetbookmaker.com/free-bets/content/news_blog/betting_tips_for_the_weekend_and_hamilton_odds_for_the_china_gp/#When:19:00:00Z Here are my tips for the weekend as well as the odds for the China Grand Prix, with Lewis Hamilton 7/2 to win the title this weekend. Back in the football, why not take Wigan to get a draw at Anfield? Or Hull to beat the Hammers. I would, at 2.20 with Betinternet. Is this a weekend to be betting? There seem to be upsets galore on the fixture list, but if you pick through the fixtures, there are one or two stand-out choices with excellent odds. First up is Hull City vs West Ham. The honeymoon period seems to be over for Zola with a poor performance at home to Bolton, and the last place they want to go is Hull - a team who have surprised everyone with gung-ho performances. Hull are looking to mirror the Housemartins' album London 0 Hull 4 - that would make it four victories over London sides - Fulham, Arsenal and Spurs so far. I'd take them with betinternet.com.com at 2.30. Liverpool seem to have issues against the little sides, with plucky Stoke (don't you just hate that word?) keeping them at bay. Wigan can do the same at 4.20, which is very tasty. Something that is not very tasty, however, is the Lancashire derby - Bolton vs Blackburn. I've seen this game several times and I think I've fallen asleep each time. There's something about it that bores the life out of me. A draw would be a fair result. In the meantime, Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea ought all to win easily - but you won't get great odds. Better to look outside football this weekend and Lewis Hamilton is 7/2 to win the title this weekend in China. With two races remaining in the F1 circus a favourable result for the championship leader could see Hamilton wrap up the title this weekend, where he is 7/4 to win the race. However is Hamilton starting to crack under the pressure as he did last year? The Brit is 11/4 to fail to score any points for the second race running and 33/1 to crash out on the first corner. Hamilton will more than likely settle for finishing ahead of Felipe Massa and is 4/5 to see off his title rival in a direct match bet. There’s no love lost between him and the Ferrari drivers or Fernando Alonso, who promised to help Massa over his former team mate, and Paddy Power offer 8/1 any one of the three drivers take Hamilton out of the race to scupper his title hopes. Drivers Championship 1/3        Hamilton 5/2        Massa 16/1      Kubica 7/2        Hamilton to win the title this weekend Race Specials Hamilton v Massa match bet 4/5        Hamilton 10/11    Massa Ham It Up 11/4      Hamilton not to win any points in the race 33/1      Hamilton to crash out on the first corne F1's Chinese Takeaway Specials 150/1    Piquet Duck – Piquet to win his first F1 race 10/1      Vettel Fried Race – Sebastien Vettel 1st to retire 10/11    Spring Pole - Driver to start in pole and win race 8/1        Chop Suey - Hamilton to be taken out of the race by Alonso, Massa or Raikkonen 40/1      Prawn Crackers - Force India driver to be on podium this weekend Big Trouble In Little China – how many times will the safety car be out during the race? 4/6        None 11/10    One or more China GP Driver Outright Podium Points 1st To Retire w/o Big 6 Pole Position Hamilton 7/4 2/5 1/4 33/1 - 7/4 Massa 15/8 2/5 1/4 33/1 - 6/4 Raikkonen 9/2 5/2 2/7 33/1 - 4/1 Alonso 8/1 13/8 1/3 16/1 10/11 10/1 Kovalainen 14/1 5/2 1/3 25/1 - 11/1 Kubica 20/1 7/2 2/7 33/1 - 22/1 Heidfeld 50/1 15/2 4/7 33/1 - 40/1 Vettel 50/1 11/1 4/5 10/1 9/2 40/1 Glock 80/1 14/1 10/11 14/1 11/2 66/1 Trulli 80/1 14/1 10/11 16/1 13/2 66/1 Bourdais 100/1 25/1 2/1 10/1 20/1 80/1 Webber 100/1 25/1 13/8 16/1 11/1 100/1 Piquet 150/1 25/1 11/8 8/1 10/1 150/1 Coulthard 150/1 33/1 7/2 9/1 40/1 200/1 Rosberg 150/1 33/1 5/2 16/1 33/1 150/1 Button 250/1 50/1 6/1 16/1 66/1 250/1 Barrichello 250/1 50/1 6/1 16/1 66/1 250/1 Nakajima 250/1 50/1 9/2 12/1 50/1 200/1 Fisichella 500/1 80/1 14/1 8/1 80/1 500/1 Sutil 500/1 80/1 14/1 8/1 80/1 500/1 2008-10-16T19:00:00+00:00 http://freebetbookmaker.com/free-bets/content/news_blog/how_many_times_will_barack_obama_say_change_and_will_mccain_mention_bush/ http://freebetbookmaker.com/free-bets/content/news_blog/how_many_times_will_barack_obama_say_change_and_will_mccain_mention_bush/#When:18:55:01Z Paddy Power Bookmakers are offering odds on the final debate which takes place later today. And we’re backing Barack Obama to say ‘change’ quite a lot. Great stuff! How many times will Barack Obama say the word 'change' tonight in the Presidential debate? We're saying more than 16 but less than 20 - and that'll get you 4/1 with Paddy Power var uri = 'http://impgb.tradedoubler.com/imp?type(inv)g(16757604)a(1511557)' + new String (Math.random()).substring (2, 11); document.write(''); bookmakers. Does anyone else wish this would go on a bit longer? After all, it's a great distraction from the doom and gloom of the recession and the housing crash. Sarah Palin has amused us all by being a complete bimbo at heart. Barack Obama has stretched so far out into the lead in the opinion polls that some bookmakers have stopped taking bets on him... and John McCain - well, don't they wish they'd gone for Huckabee - just for the laughs? What a waste of space. So the final debate takes place tonight and the main question is - just how nasty is McCain going to be? I reckon at some point he's just going to turn round and chin Obama in a vain attempt to win the Presidential election on a knock-out - or at the very least a technicality. He's going to bring up Bill Ayers, which is so childish it's like a middle-aged man chiding someone because when he went to school, he sat next to the boy who picks his nose and eats it. "Oooh, you were friends with him - nur nur nur nur nur." So to make this debate interesting, let's stick some money on it. Obama to "win" it is 4/9 and that's not very tasty, because we know he'll win it - and that's according to CNN. How many times will McCain mention the word 'Bush' - and let's assume that he's not talking about Sarah Palin's, which is still probably way more coherent than the incumbent President. Sorry, any ladies who may have read this far. Not at all is 11-8 and that's tempting for a man who wants to distance himself as far away as he possibly can from the cowboy. Both men are 5/6 to elicit the first laughter from the audience, although I'd be tempted to go for McCain as Barack Obama is not exactly a laugh-a-minute man, and McCain is more likely to get some nervous laughter out of the audience. So, if you're up for that - get on with Paddy Power var uri = 'http://impgb.tradedoubler.com/imp?type(inv)g(16757604)a(1511557)' + new String (Math.random()).substring (2, 11); document.write(''); and they'll double your first bet. 2008-10-15T18:55:01+00:00 http://freebetbookmaker.com/free-bets/content/news_blog/will_mccain_drop_palin_you_betcha_at_10_1_that_and_more_odd_odds/ http://freebetbookmaker.com/free-bets/content/news_blog/will_mccain_drop_palin_you_betcha_at_10_1_that_and_more_odd_odds/#When:19:27:00Z 10/1 says that John McCain finally realises Sarah Palin is something of a liability and gets rid of her before the election. Well, OK, maybe he won’t, but there are some ‘odd’ bets out there that could land you in the cash. Bet 10 get 20 var uri = 'http://impgb.tradedoubler.com/imp?type(inv)g(16757604)a(1511557)' + new String (Math.random()).substring (2, 11); document.write(''); with Paddy Power Bookmakers: they'll give you a free bet worth double your £10 deposit. A bunch of bankers got rich on betting against things going badly, so why can't you? Sarah 'The Idiot' Palin (as we call her round here) has turned out to be nothing more than a disaster for John McCain and is 10/1 to either step down or be dropped completely from his election ticket. OK, so that might not happen - and nor might the 20/1 against the election being cancelled completely. However, these days, you never know what's around the corner. You're better off taking 7/4 against Italy pulling out of the Euro before the end of 2009. If nobody does, then you get your money back, so consider it an investment you can hardly lose. Ireland are second favourites at a bizarre 3/1 - strange, this one, as Ireland are one of the countries that has profited from the Euro, so I have my doubts that Ireland would ever pull out of the Euro. And if they do and this article is still around, I will be seen eating humble pie. I'm quite tempted by France at 12/1 - for all their posturing and preening, the French are damned irritating when it comes to applying EU laws - they pay out more in fines than anyone else - and there's even a village in France that has started accepting the Franc again. So just you wait for those irritating French politicians to declare they've had enough of Europe, probably because the Brits keep expanding it (because the Americans tell them too - booooo!). How's about the next Pope? It'll be either an Italian or a South American in my opinion - those Cardinals missed a trick last time by going for a German, but those Americans might have had a word with the other Cardinals. With the waning power of the US, a South American might actually get through this time and Claudio Hummes is a good bet at 12/1. Father Dougall McGuire is 1000/1, so good luck to you if you want a couple of quid on that one. And for those of you who don't believe that the Americans had a hand in John Paul II becoming Pope, read Jon Snow's autobiography. He'll put you straight. The Booker Prize often goes to writers of Asian origin, so it would be no surprise to see Amitav Ghosh seize the prize for Sea of Poppies. I tried reading that God of Small Things a few years back and Arundahati Roy's love of adjectives and adverbs really put me off. I got through 10 pages before she had finished describing someone's nasal hair or something. Forgive me, but I require a little more action from my novels, and Sea of Poppies (which for the record, I haven't read) is a decent shot at 3/1. And finally - who will be the world's biggest economy on 1st January 2010? China at 5/2 is a whopper. I'll have that any day. Bet 10 get 20 var uri = 'http://impgb.tradedoubler.com/imp?type(inv)g(16757604)a(1511557)' + new String (Math.random()).substring (2, 11); document.write(''); with Paddy Power Bookmakers: they'll give you a free bet worth double your £10 deposit. 2008-10-13T19:27:00+00:00 http://freebetbookmaker.com/free-bets/content/news_blog/this_weekends_football_betting_and_a_25_pounds_free_bet_from_888com/ http://freebetbookmaker.com/free-bets/content/news_blog/this_weekends_football_betting_and_a_25_pounds_free_bet_from_888com/#When:16:35:00Z Oh for chrissake it’s another internationals week. England take on the mighty Kazakhstan (woopee) and Scotland tackle the might of Norway. Here’s my tips for the weekend. var uri = 'http://impgb.tradedoubler.com/imp?type(js)g(17538972)a(1511557)' + new String (Math.random()).substring (2, 11); document.write(''); Ah England my England - they're up one minute, down the next. Kazakhstan, however, shouldn't provide too much of a hurdle, should they? After disposing of the mighty Croatia, England are due to be taken down a peg or two. That's how it works. So I'm looking at 888.com's offer of 2/1 against there being less than 2.5 goals. That's tempting - with England's scoring record generally being pretty poor against these lowly sides, 2/1 is excellent. Alternatively, that's 2-0 at 11/2. Argentina badly badly need a win at home to Uruguay after some poor form over recent months (barring the Olympics), and can get themselves back on track with a win there. However, the form team at the moment is Paraguay, and they are 2/1 to come out of Colombia with something. That's great value. Ecuador are starting to look like a decent outfit - very strong in the middle - and they are EVENS at home to beat hapless Chile. I'll be taking those odds. In the cricket, Australia have started off well against India in Bangalore, and this looks like a pretty dead pitch which so far has offered little to the spinners. The Aussie seamers might enjoy it a little more when they get out there against India's Dad's Army, so 13/8 against is not bad. var uri = 'http://impgb.tradedoubler.com/imp?type(js)g(17538964)a(1511557)' + new String (Math.random()).substring (2, 11); document.write(''); But above all, these international weekends are for one thing - keeping the missus happy. Remind her that you're sacrificing a weekend's football to be with her and you've got brownie points for the rest of the month. Just get your money on now with 888.com and you'll get a free £25 bet to kick things off. 2008-10-09T16:35:00+00:00 http://freebetbookmaker.com/free-bets/content/news_blog/oxford_university_favourites_to_top_itunes_charts_latest_odds_and_free_bet_/ http://freebetbookmaker.com/free-bets/content/news_blog/oxford_university_favourites_to_top_itunes_charts_latest_odds_and_free_bet_/#When:16:27:01Z Cambridge usually has the edge on Oxford, but the extra clout in the ITunes podcast battle gives Oxford the edge in this particular betting market. Find out more - and some more strange bets (and a free one too) here. var uri = 'http://impgb.tradedoubler.com/imp?type(js)g(17464372)a(1511557)' + new String (Math.random()).substring (2, 11); document.write(''); With news that both Oxford and Cambridge will go head to head and publish about 450 hours of free to download audio and video podcasts of lectures, films and college information through iTunes, bookmaker Paddy Power is betting which of the two academic institutions will win the technology race. Oxford , who are currently 98th on the iTunes podcast chart, are 4/6 favourites with Paddy Power to top the podcast charts first while it’s just 8/11 that they hold a higher chart position than rivals Cambridge on 1st November. As rivalries go, it’s one of the oldest – The University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge, collectively known as Oxbridge have, for over 750 years shared a fierce rivalry to be Britain’s most prestigious University. A total of 25 Prime Ministers have hailed from Oxford but when it comes to Nobel Laureates, Cambridge has the edge on its rival. Usually competition between the pair can be seen at sporting events like the annual boat race and the Varsity Rugby match, but the battle between the two institutions has now moved into the age of technology. Sharon McHugh, spokesperson for Paddy Power said: “The rivalry between Oxford and Cambridge runs deep. This latest battle will speak volumes about the Universities popularity and both sides will not want to lose!” OXFORD V CAMBRIDGE PODCAST BATTLE Who will top the iTunes Podcast Chart first?     4/6    Oxford 11/10    Cambridge Who will have the best chart position on 1st Nov?   8/11    Oxford    Evs    Cambridge Blogging All Over the World   66/1    Blogging to be introduced as a compulsory subject for GCSE exams by 2010 2008-10-08T16:27:01+00:00 http://freebetbookmaker.com/free-bets/content/news_blog/football_and_the_financial_crisis_the_freebetbookmaker_viewpoint/ http://freebetbookmaker.com/free-bets/content/news_blog/football_and_the_financial_crisis_the_freebetbookmaker_viewpoint/#When:21:03:00Z Could a Premiership club go under? It’s possible - with West Ham tied up with Landsbanki - allegedly - and Manchester United bought up with so much debt. There’s that possibility that Sir Alex could even be seen carrying a cardboard box full of his office stuff.  var uri = 'http://impgb.tradedoubler.com/imp?type(js)g(17464372)a(1511557)' + new String (Math.random()).substring (2, 11); document.write(''); First it was a credit crunch, and now it's a global crisis - but football teams seem to have sleepwalked their way through it, with Manchester United spending £30m to get Dimitar Berbatov, City being taken over by Abu Dhabi and Liverpool spending millions on every Spanish footballer that was ever born. But football clubs are beginning to see the dark at the end of the tunnel, and they don't like what they see. Everton's Bill Kenwright has already admitted that it's a game for the billionnaires and the club's finances have hit rock bottom with Kenwright forced to mortgage the club's future against a stadium that may not even get the go-ahead. Everton are in a bad state and badly need someone like Anil Ambani to bail them out - but the three who maintain the debts are the three in the frontline: Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United. Together they own £1bn worth of debt - and Football Association Chairman Lord Triesman says that's a third of the debt owed by English football clubs. Take a look at West Ham today, with chairman Magnus Eggertson having to issue a statement saying that the club will not be affected by Landsbanki going into receivership. The club is already set to hand out millions over the Tevez affair and have had to scale back their spending plans as a result. What happens when the Glazers or Gillette & Hicks wind up in trouble? They have already put the new stadium on hold... Just as nobody predicted the collapse of Lehman's, nobody has predicted the collapse of a Premiership football club. The Premier League, of course, have tried to deflect attention away by claiming that the FA itself is heavily indebted and that clubs' income is proportionate to their expenditure - but the debt packages that have been tied into Liverpool and Manchester United are just as murky as any of those that have been bringing down American banks - and now banks around the world. As long as there are billionnaires around to bail out clubs, those with chairmen who view their clubs as playthings will survive - until they get bored or see their fortune halved overnight and decide they're going to stop playing around. Arsenal, too, will remain solid - having invested wisely in their stadium and a youth scheme that is paying dividends. But there are clubs in the Premier League who have been playing around with debt - and if one does start to struggle, it could pull the others down with it. The future? Unless every Premiership club gets itself a billionnaire, then the Premier League clubs ought to think along the lines of the Championship which sees clubs start on a relatively equal footing, and punishes those with poor financial records. However, even in this volatile market, I don't see that happening unless a club collapses. And as long as there's debt involved, there remains a possibility that we'll Sir Alex carrying the items from his desk out of Old Trafford in a cardboard box. A small one, but not as crazy as Lehman brothers or Utd's own sponsors AIG going bust. 2008-10-07T21:03:00+00:00 http://freebetbookmaker.com/free-bets/content/news_blog/this_weekends_top_football_tips_and_compare_unibet_and_paddy_power_for_the_/ http://freebetbookmaker.com/free-bets/content/news_blog/this_weekends_top_football_tips_and_compare_unibet_and_paddy_power_for_the_/#When:17:02:01Z Another weekend and another raft of intriguing matches - top of the bill is Chelsea vs Aston Villa and I’m also looking at Everton and Spurs who have two home matches that they would normally be able to win quite easily. And form says they’ll lose. So it’ll be a draw, right? Erm… Oh, and there’s the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on Sunday. Great stuff! var uri = 'http://impgb.tradedoubler.com/imp?type(js)g(16805082)a(1511557)' + new String (Math.random()).substring (2, 11); document.write(''); It's a tempting old weekend, this one - with some juicy fixtures that can sway you one way or another. Compare odds with Unibet and Paddy Power using our handy interactive odds tool. Now then, Chelsea vs Aston Villa. Chelsea have held off Manchester United (only just) and maintained their fifteen-decade unbeaten run (or whatever), and now they have to face in-form Aston Villa. Remember last Christmas and that crazy 4-4 draw? Villa almost won it that day, and they are well worth a draw at Stamford Bridge, worth 3/1 in some places. O'Neill has made them fit, strong, organised - and fearless. Everton vs Newcastle is going to be interesting - and I suggest you leave it well alone. Everton could come back with a response to last night's abject performance against Standard Liege, or they could continue to go down with a whimper. Remember, the thing about form is that it has to change at some point - Everton cannot lose every game at home this season, and the visit of Newcastle could be a saving grace for them. However, Newcastle are horrible as well. Don't touch it with a bargepole. var uri = 'http://impgb.tradedoubler.com/imp?type(js)g(17464378)a(1511557)' + new String (Math.random()).substring (2, 11); document.write(''); Hull, however, are great value at 3/1 to win at Spurs. Anyone can win there, even Everton (well, perhaps), so this is the value away bet of the day. West Ham should beat Bolton - they're in smashing form at the moment and Gianfranco Zola has brought a smile to many faces. They're playing with confidence, and Bolton are just - well, they're just Bolton. That's 4/5 which is very generous. Equally, Pompey ought to beat Stoke - although they need to be watched as they're following on from an extra-time European match in Portugal and a European hangover can occur. I like the look of Wigan this season - and they have what looks on paper to be quite an easy win over Middlesborough who have flattered to deceive at times. Gareth Southgate is an excellent boss - make no mistake about it - but his side don't seem to have the heart or the guts that Wigan do. Wigan are a tasty 11/10 for this one. Down in the Championship, Reading have an excellent home record and should dispatch Burnley pretty comfortably, while my Conference team Ebbsfleet look to be the draw specialists - they ought to get at least that at Altrincham on Saturday. And if you're into your horse racing, it's the Arc and my Arc tip remains Zarkava ahead of Vision d'Etat and Soldier of Fortune - and yes, not Duke of Marmalade. 2008-10-03T17:02:01+00:00 http://freebetbookmaker.com/free-bets/content/news_blog/reality_tv_betting_with_paddy_power_place_your_x_factor_and_strictly_bets_n/ http://freebetbookmaker.com/free-bets/content/news_blog/reality_tv_betting_with_paddy_power_place_your_x_factor_and_strictly_bets_n/#When:16:33:00Z 40/1 says that Cheryl Cole will do a full striptease to her underwear on the X-Factor. Well, if it means she continues to outshine Dannii Minogue, she ought to! That’s just one of the odds on offer with Paddy Power whose “bet £10 get £20” free bet is still our number one free bet offer. var uri = ‘http://impgb.tradedoubler.com/imp?type(inv)g(17403894)a(1511557)’ + new String (Math.random()).substring (2, 11); document.write(’‘); var uri = 'http://impgb.tradedoubler.com/imp?type(img)g(17403894)a(1511557)' + new String (Math.random()).substring (2, 11); document.write(''); It will be high drama this week as the X Factor judges send half of the final 24 acts home, leaving just 12 acts to contend against one another at the Live X factor shows. This weekend’s show will see three acts assigned to each manager. Cheryl is mentoring the 18-24 yr old girls, Simon is mentoring the 18-24 yr old boys, Louis is mentoring the groups leaving Dannii with the over 24’s. Meanwhile, Strictly Come Dancing is in full swing. It’s the boys who head the betting this year with Austin Healy the 11/4 favourite to win the whole thing.  Paddy Power takes a look at this week’s reality TV betting for X Factor and Strictly Come Dancing. THIS WEEKENDS BETTING UPDATE X-Factor The final twelve have yet to be revealed but Paddy Power are already betting on which act will be crowned this year’s X Factor winner. Laura White from Bolton is the early favourite at 7/2. Cheryl Cole has proved a massive hit with viewers this year and she was bound to get a good category. The Girls Aloud stunner is just 5/4 to beat her fellow managers Simon, Louis and Dannii and produce an X Factor winner this year. Meanwhile there are question marks over Dannii Minogue’s future on the panel. Cheryl has stolen the limelight this year and even Ronan Keating said the Aussie star had “lost the X Factor”. How soon before Simon boots her off the panel? There’s value to be had at 3/1 that Dannii becomes the next X Factor casualty!  Strictly Come Dancing This year’s Strictly is still in the warming up stages. Rugby ace Austin Healy is the 11/4 favourite but there’s a long way to go and a lot of talent to compete with. Some of this year’s talented dancers include former S Club 7 stunner Rachel Stevens at 10/3 and model and presenter Lisa Snowden at 14/1. LATEST PADDY POWER BETTING X Factor Outright     7/2    Laura White     5/1    Austin Drage     5/1    Alexandra Burke     6/1    Rachel Hylton     8/1    Diana Vickers   10/1    JLS   10/1    Eoghan Quigg   10/1    Danny Evans   14/1    Susie Furlonger   16/1    Amy Connolly   18/1    Hannah Bradbeer   18/1    Bad Lashes   20/1    Scott Bruton   20/1    Girlband   22/1    Ruth Lorenzo   40/1    Liam Payne   50/1    Alan Turner   50/1    Mali-Michael McCalla   66/1    Priority   66/1    Anastacia Baker   66/1    James Williams   80/1    Louise Heatley 100/1    Desire 100/1    4 Instinct Winning Category    5/4     Cheryl Cole       (18-24yr old girls)    9/4     Simon Cowell    (18-24 yr old boys)    3/1     Dannii Minogue (Over 25’s)    6/1     Louis Walsh      (Groups) Next to step down/lose their job?        11/10    Dermot O'Leary    7/4     Louis Walsh    3/1     Danni Minogue    6/1     Holly Willoughby  50/1     Simon Cowell X Factor Specials           1/4     X Factor Winner To Be 2008 Christmas No. 1(according to BBC Radio 1)    3/1     A Finalist to quit of his/her own accord & not return    4/1     Louis Walsh to quit the show as a judge, before the Final night, & not return    4/1     Sharon Osbourne to return to X Factor as a judge/mentor in 2008    6/1     Cheryl Cole To Slap Simon Cowell In The Face    8/1     Danni Minogue To Throw A Glass Of Water Over Cheryl Cole  10/1     Simon Cowell To Swear During A Live Show   12/1     Simon Cowell To Cry During A Live Perfomance  12/1     Simon Cowell To Label The 2008 X Factor Series "The Worst Yet"  18/1     Dannii Minogue & Cheryl Cole to have a catfight  20/1     Any Of 2007 10 Finalists to win this year's X Factor  33/1     Simon Cowell & Louis Walsh to sing a duet Live  40/1     Cheryl Cole to do a full Striptease to her underwear Live  50/1     ITV To Scrap The Show Before The Series Finale Strictly Come Dancing Winner   11/4    Austin Healey   10/3    Rachel Stevens     7/2    Tom Chambers     8/1    Christine Bleakley     9/1    Cherie Lunghi   14/1    Lisa Snowdon   14/1    Andrew Castle   14/1    Heather Small   16/1    Mark Foster   28/1    Jodie Kidd   33/1    Jessie Wallace   66/1    Gary Rhodes 100/1    Don Warrington 100/1    John Sergeant Next Elimination    6/4     Don Warrington  15/8     Gary Rhodes    4/1     John Sergeant    5/1     Mark Foster  10/1     Andrew Castle  66/1     Tom Chambers 100/1    Austin Healey Bet £10 on any of these odds and Paddy Power will give you a free bet of £20 credited to your account. var uri = 'http://impgb.tradedoubler.com/imp?type(inv)g(17403894)a(1511557)' + new String (Math.random()).substring (2, 11); document.write(''); 2008-10-03T16:33:00+00:00 http://freebetbookmaker.com/free-bets/content/news_blog/the_prix_de_larc_take_zarkava_and_vision_detat_ahead_of_duke_of_marmalade/ http://freebetbookmaker.com/free-bets/content/news_blog/the_prix_de_larc_take_zarkava_and_vision_detat_ahead_of_duke_of_marmalade/#When:17:27:01Z I’ve said it before on here, and I’ll say it again - the Prix de l’Arc runs to form 8 times out of 10. And if so, then Vision d’Etat is great - no, fantastic value at 9/1. However, it’s the incredible filly Zarkava that has people believing that this is one of those 2 times out of 10. 2008-09-28T17:27:01+00:00 http://freebetbookmaker.com/free-bets/content/news_blog/who_will_be_the_next_airline_to_go_bust_get_the_latest_odds_and_a_free_bet_/ http://freebetbookmaker.com/free-bets/content/news_blog/who_will_be_the_next_airline_to_go_bust_get_the_latest_odds_and_a_free_bet_/#When:16:42:00Z I’ve got a couple of quid on Jet2 because they’re bloody awful, but you can bet on any airline you like with Paddy Power. What’s more, they’ll give you a free bet worth double your deposit. You can also bet on the next Premiership sponsor to withdraw, following the collapse of XL Airways… Click here to access the free bet offer var uri = ‘http://impgb.tradedoubler.com/imp?type(inv)g(16757604)a(1511557)’ + new String (Math.random()).substring (2, 11); document.write(’‘); var uri = 'http://impgb.tradedoubler.com/imp?type(js)g(17464378)a(1511557)' + new String (Math.random()).substring (2, 11); document.write(''); Bet on who will be the next airline to go bust, and you will get a free bet worth double your deposit with Paddy Power. Click here to access the free bet offer var uri = 'http://impgb.tradedoubler.com/imp?type(inv)g(16757604)a(1511557)' + new String (Math.random()).substring (2, 11); document.write(''); It's funny when you go on holiday; it seems the whole country is falling apart without you. I had only just arrived at Stansted when I heard that XL Airways had gone bust, and then the entire financial market seemed to collapse after that. Lehman Brothers, my own bloody bank - the Halifax for God's sake, and Man Utd's sponsors AIG all visited shit creek without their respective paddles and came out the other end looking as if they forgot the bloody canoe too. That's the thing when you go abroad for a week, everything seems to have greater importance, and you come back to a changed world. It seems now that every airline is in trouble except for the biggies, so if you've booked a flight with Alitalia, well it's your own bloody fault. Paddy Power are offering odds on the next to go - and they're even doing it without Alitalia. I have to say - who the hell would want to fly with Alitalia anyway? My only experience with them involved being insulted, being very late and having my luggage very lost. FlyGlobespan is currently the 3-1 favourite without Alitalia, and Spanair is 4-1. Air Berlin is a surprising 7-1 while you can get Finnair, SkyEurope, WizzAir and even Thomas Cook Airlines. Jet2, who are absolutely horrible, are 18-1 - and I say that because my sister's family were held up four hours going and four hours coming back - and you can get a curiously low 40-1 against Aeroflot or BmiBaby. Bizarre. You could actually choose to bet on the next Premiership sponsor to go bust - and Manchester City of all clubs are the first in line with Thomas Cook, at 9-4. Newcastle are very low at 5-1 with Northern Rock - surprisingly so - while AIG, despite having been bailed out by the US Government (sorry, Tax Payer), are 8-1. This is on the sponsorship deal to have been announced as 'ended', so be careful with the wording here and check everything. So there it is - I'm hoping it's Jet2 who go bust next, and at 18-1, it's worth a few pennies. It's a special "bet £10 get £20" free bet deal with Paddy Power, so get it here var uri = 'http://impgb.tradedoubler.com/imp?type(inv)g(16757604)a(1511557)' + new String (Math.random()).substring (2, 11); document.write(''); and double your money. 2008-09-22T16:42:00+00:00 http://freebetbookmaker.com/free-bets/content/news_blog/back_sexy_daniela_hantuchova_to_win_in_bali_with_william_hill/ http://freebetbookmaker.com/free-bets/content/news_blog/back_sexy_daniela_hantuchova_to_win_in_bali_with_william_hill/#When:21:16:00Z It’s high time Daniela Hantuchova won something, and the sexy Slovak finally has a chance here in Bali. And we can see at least two good reasons why… I've always thought of tennis as a dreadfully unfair game. Martina Navratilova ran rampant over the hopes of mankind all over the world by continually winning Wimbledon every year while Gabriela Sabatini, that 80s glamour puss from Argentina, never did a thing. Steffi Graf had nice legs but a funny nose and men around the world looked on in confusion. Ah but yes, we do sometimes watch the tennis, you know. We loved Martina Hingis for her delicate lobs, her cheeky backhands and her affable temperament on court, even if those horrible French fans (who really shouldn't be allowed to watch sport) booed her continually. But they're French and therefore wrong about everything. Anna Kournikova has always been rotten - completely and utterly rotten, but it didn't stop her from achieving her ultimate aim which was to milk the tennis cow for all it's worth without actually hitting a ball in anger. After all, she couldn't hit the ball. We all had such high hopes for Maria Sharapova but she too appears to have faded at such a young age - and ultimately, you know, us men, we do like the tennis aspect. No, really, we do. We appreciate the power of the Williams sisters, but we love the grace of Sharapova's serve and the... well... what can we say about Daniela Hantuchova? She's an average player, but she is one of the cutest also-rans that has ever played the game. And that's why we're backing her to win the WTA tournament in Bali. Not that we really care about the tournament, but we've watched Daniela slave away match after match, tournament after tournament, getting to the quarter finals and losing in straight sets - and this is her chance to get a trophy in that cabinet. So here's a picture of Daniela in fine form. We're backing her at 4/11 to win her next match againstYJ Chan - and we'll back her all the way in Bali. The quarter finals will probably bring through Patty Schnyder as the principal opponent for Hantuchova, but for once the Slovak is the top seed and William Hill have it spot on. Bet now and you'll get a free £25 bet added to your account. 2008-09-11T21:16:00+00:00 http://freebetbookmaker.com/free-bets/content/news_blog/palin_for_president_shes_only_7_2_with_paddy_power/ http://freebetbookmaker.com/free-bets/content/news_blog/palin_for_president_shes_only_7_2_with_paddy_power/#When:20:53:01Z Sarah Palin for President? Don’t be crazy! Not even the Americans are mad enough to elect a lipstick-smeared pitbull into the Oval Office. Oh, hang on, they did elect a retarded monkey, so anything can happen… and Paddy Power are on the money. 7/2 for her to be elected President in 2013… We take you through the Presidential odds… Get a var uri = 'http://impgb.tradedoubler.com/imp?type(js)g(16757600)a(1511557)' + new String (Math.random()).substring (2, 11); document.write(''); with Paddy Power - simply bet £10 and you'll get a free £20 bet. Yup, that's right, bet 10, get 20. Those Americans have a habit of fooling us - and Sarah Palin is yet another example. Where on earth did John McCain find her? Not only does she scare the heckfire out of most normal people, she makes him look like a lecherous old uncle. Don't forget, this guy has had more health scares than George Best had pints - so the idea that Sarah Palin could be President in 2013 is actually not far off the mark. Remember Dan Quayle? He was a 'heartbeat' away from the Oval Office and he couldn't spell potato. Mind you, George W. Bush doesn't even know what a potato is, so in comparison, Vice President Quayle looked like a Harvard Graduate. Sarah Palin is in neither category - she might keep kids awake at night, but she's not stupid. The 7/2 offered by Paddy Power is actually quite a logical choice if John McCain actually does get elected. The bet does state that she is 'sworn in' as President in 2013, though. Paddy Power are also offering a range of bets on the election, making Barack Obama a surprisingly short-odds favourite at 4/7. Now this could be explained by some partisan betting - most Europeans would love to see Obama as President, and would be betting with their hearts. This election is much closer than that, as the state-by-state betting shows. Most states seem to be largely pro-Republican. However, if you really think that Barack Obama will cure those racist little hearts in Utah, then you can get 50/1 that the Democrats will win that state. Yup, that's 50/1 in a two-horse race. Interestingly, they are offering 30/1 that Joe Biden is dropped from the Democratic ticket - and 55/1 that he is replaced with Hillary Clinton. Clinton is becoming Obama's attack dog, notably as Palin has stepped into the fray. However, the idea that Obama would drop an experienced politician such as Biden is far-fetched. Get a var uri = 'http://impgb.tradedoubler.com/imp?type(js)g(16757600)a(1511557)' + new String (Math.random()).substring (2, 11); document.write(''); with Paddy Power - simply bet £10 and you'll get a free £20 bet. Over here, Labour's days seem numbered, as the Conservatives are 2/9 to win the next election. Given that there may be a change of leader, and that opinion polls are often little to go by, 11/4 seems very generous and it may be worth a few pounds on Labour to pull something out of the hat. David Milliband is a very generous 2/1 to be the next leader of the Labour party, but he probably acknowledges the fact that Labour are going to get hammered whatever happens, so the 6/1 against Jack Straw is very tasty - an interim, bland choice who will take defeat on the chin for the party. Whyever not? 2008-09-10T20:53:01+00:00 http://freebetbookmaker.com/free-bets/content/news_blog/the_ladbrokes_st_leger_can_frozen_fire_and_look_here_justify_favouritism/ http://freebetbookmaker.com/free-bets/content/news_blog/the_ladbrokes_st_leger_can_frozen_fire_and_look_here_justify_favouritism/#When:20:16:00Z Anyone who has followed my tips over the years knows that I rarely give out tips unless I know the race - and that I often like the sons of Arc winners - especially Montjeu. So logically, I should be tipping Frozen Fire, yes? I’m not so sure. Here’s why… var uri = 'http://impgb.tradedoubler.com/imp?type(js)g(16514280)a(1511557)' + new String (Math.random()).substring (2, 11); document.write(''); Get your free £10 bet and put it on Doctor Fremantle at 12/1. var uri = 'http://impgb.tradedoubler.com/imp?type(inv)g(12543847)a(1511557)' + new String (Math.random()).substring (2, 11); document.write(''); Now I like form. I like to see lots of it - I hate to put money on a horse that has not got at least a few races under its belt, and this year's St. Leger looks like a clash between some horses that haven't seen a lot of action since June. Frozen Fire and Look Here are the two favourites with the bookies. Frozen Fire was no great shakes in the English Derby, but won the Irish Derby in convincing style, but Irish Derby winners are often winners of the Irish Derby alone - I would not suggest Frozen Fire is worth the 2/1 odds being quoted. Look Here is a very talented filly, but has not raced since winning the Oaks and this will be an entirely different proposition. That was on the 6th of June - we're in September now and the ground has received something of a soaking. There's a difference between lightly raced and barely raced. Look Here does not have the form in the bag - we're going on one race, on one course that is something of an anomaly. Let's also not forget that she's a filly - as is the popular Unsung Heroine, who is another with just two races on the form book. So let's look for something to go by - and the two horses that do have form for us to analyse are Conduit and Doctor Fremantle. Conduit is an attractive 6/1, while Doctor Fremantle can be found at twice those odds - and it's hard to split the two. However, Doctor Fremantle's form on the softer ground, along with an excellent run of form prior to two recent fourth-placed finishes makes those odds seem excellent value. If either of those two horses win, Sir Michael Stoute will pick up his first St. Leger - and how long has he been waiting for one? I'm not punting large on this one - there's hardly anything to go by, so I'm going to stick with a horse that has proven itself over the long, wet summer rather than either of two horses that have stayed put in the stable eating hay. Doctor Fremantle it is, then - perhaps an each-way bet for me. 2008-09-09T20:16:00+00:00 http://freebetbookmaker.com/free-bets/content/news_blog/betuk_offer_3_1_against_sexy_elena_dementieva_youd_be_demented_not_to_take_/ http://freebetbookmaker.com/free-bets/content/news_blog/betuk_offer_3_1_against_sexy_elena_dementieva_youd_be_demented_not_to_take_/#When:18:52:01Z The women’s US Open is looking like a cracking contest - and we’re going for our own personal favourite Elena Dementieva. At 3/1, she’s worth the odds, and in this white dress - we’d back her at any odds. Get a free £25 bet with BetUK here. For some bizarre reason, the two players on top form are quoted at 3/1 and 11/2 - and we're backing Olympic champion Elena Dementieva at 3/1 with BetUK - and you'll get a free £25 bet thrown in. For years, Dementieva was the "nearly" woman. She couldn't even serve afternoon tea she was so bad - but all of a sudden, the Russian came into form at the right time and has started serving, well - like one of the Williams sisters. And it's Serena Williams, who for so long this season has stunk the house out (relatively speaking), who is the odds-on favourite at the semi-final stage. Strange one - because Dementieva and Safina are the two who look like they are in prime form. Jelena Jankovic has been having an Ivanovic of a season - hot and cold but mostly cold - and I wouldn't be putting any money on her, even at 13/2. The men's tournament is wide open, but you can expect a Nadal - Djokovic final and you wouldn't get very odds for it - what with Nadal at 1/5 to beat Andy Murray and Djokovic 4/6 to beat Roddick. You'll probably have more joy out of the odds of 5/1 that Djokovic would beat Roddick 3-2 in sets. So - Bet UK - is it actually any good? Well, I've been playing around on it for the last couple of weeks and have decided that it actually is quite good. It's a lot like Centrebet, and offers the same huge range of markets that you tend to find on sites like Unibet and Gamebookers - right down to the good old Polish second division, if that's what you're interested in. There's a lot of live betting which shows that there's plenty of people working behind the scenes to make this a pretty good bookmaker that pays out quickly. The £25 free bet offer is a good 'un - as always, bet £25 and you get £25 to play with. Get a free £25 bet with BetUK here. 2008-09-04T18:52:01+00:00 http://freebetbookmaker.com/free-bets/content/news_blog/todays_top_football_tips_and_best_odds/ http://freebetbookmaker.com/free-bets/content/news_blog/todays_top_football_tips_and_best_odds/#When:10:47:01Z I’m backing West Brom to beat Everton’s three men and a dog today - and Paddy Power and Skybet are giving away the best odds and offers to make it a bumper bank holiday weekend! var uri = 'http://impgb.tradedoubler.com/imp?type(js)g(17464378)a(1511557)' + new String (Math.random()).substring (2, 11); document.write(''); You've got to hand it to Paddy Power - that "bet £10, get £20" bet is coming in very handy for any newbies - it's a free bet offer that allows you double your first £10 bet to play with. Get it here. Obviously Arsenal are your banker of the day with what looks like a relatively easy trip to Fulham - if you are betting on goalscorers, remember that with Paddy Power - if Samir Nasri scores at all, you will get your money back. Check Arsenal's latest odds with our odds checker above. Now, as an Everton fan, it pains me to say this but I don't see anything happening this season other than trouble. West Brom away has never been an easy match for the blues - and today without Phil Neville (and some blues won't like me saying this), they're missing a key man. In fact, they're missing so many key men that they're throwing in youth players left, right and centre. And while I'm on the case - Bill Kenwright, sort it out for the love of God, man. I'd be surprised if Moyes stays beyond the end of the year at this rate. Anyway, back West Brom - these sides are battling away for everything at the start of the season and they don't have the weight of disappointment or pressure on them that usually comes late on in the season. This is a good time to play Everton. Spurs - Sunderland will be interesting and I have a feeling it'll be quite close, what with the number of ex-Spurs players lining up for Tottenham. Roy Keane has bought well - if not spectacularly - and should see Sunderland survive the season in mid-table safety. Spurs should just edge it, though - with home support behind them. I fancy Reading to beat Charlton at the Valley - Reading haven't exactly off-loaded their whole team, but Coppell will have them fired up for this one, and you can get decent odds today. Tomorrow, there's a Skybet offer going on. Get a Free Matched £50 - if you sign up today - and get a free £20 bet every Sunday when you place £20 on the "to score in 90 minutes" market. The games on offer are Citeh vs West Ham (and I'd say back Ashton to score in the 90 - Citeh look shaky right now and Ashton will be full of confidence after last weekend)... and Pompey vs Manchester Utd which is on Monday evening. For some reason, I have a feeling Giggs will get on the scoresheet tomorrow - that's worth 9/2. Your free £20 bet would be on the second market (Pompey vs Man Utd). 2008-08-23T10:47:01+00:00 http://freebetbookmaker.com/free-bets/content/news_blog/go_for_our_victoria_pendleton_on_sunday_and_double_your_money_with_paddy_po/ http://freebetbookmaker.com/free-bets/content/news_blog/go_for_our_victoria_pendleton_on_sunday_and_double_your_money_with_paddy_po/#When:20:25:00Z I know I’m a miserable sod, but when it comes to sexy athletes, I’m a sucker for the Olympics as much as anyone. And even I might just get up at 4am this Sunday to watch Victoria Pendleton - as I’ve got money riding on her! Back Victoria at 8/11 - it's your patriotic duty - and double your money with a free bet from Paddy Power. OK, OK, I admit that I have watched a little bit of the Olympics, and after my 'I hate the Olympics' rant last week which shot straight up to number 1 in blessed Google for that particular search term, I've become known as something of a 'football and cricket only' misery guts. But when it comes to our Victoria, I'm going to put my money where my mouth is, and back her all the way. Apparently we've had quite a good Olympics so far, and apparently we've won a few medals. While I've been watching other channels, the missus has been quite excited at the swimming and all that stuff. But I'll start watching on Sunday because Victoria Pendleton is nailed on to win the Women's Track Individual Spring - you can get odds of 8/11 with Paddy Power right now, which might not be the greatest return ever, but she's well worth the short odds. You can also get odds of 3/1 for her to be in the Top 3 for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year, if that's your bag. But then again - best to wait until the Olympics are over because we seem to be getting quite a few medals - and there's precious little else to celebrate this year for British sports fans. Unfortunately, though - we couldn't find any odds for Allison Stokke (pictured below). However, I thought I'd post a picture of her so that you'll be ready for the pole vault when it comes around. Get that double your money free bet from Paddy Power today 2008-08-13T20:25:00+00:00 http://freebetbookmaker.com/free-bets/content/news_blog/premiership_preview_with_free_bets_and_free_shirts_from_centrebet_and_more/ http://freebetbookmaker.com/free-bets/content/news_blog/premiership_preview_with_free_bets_and_free_shirts_from_centrebet_and_more/#When:16:38:01Z We look ahead to the first day of the season - and beyond - with some rather daring predictions. And while we’re at it - there are two sign-up codes for Centrebet that will get you either free money or a free football shirt. Get a load of that. Right, down to the football… Here we go again - the first day of the new season and everyone is expecting miracles from their sides. In fact, many sides think they need a miracle. Everton and Manchester City have endured a miserable pre-season while Spurs fans have literally been salivating at the mouths. But does pre-season really have any bearing on results? Look at Everton - their first match is probably best watched because they can go either way. Last season they got off to a stormer, but it isn't always the case. Remember Neville Southall sitting out half-time by the goalposts after conceding three goals to Leeds United? This pre-season has been awful, and Moyes' side can either pull together and show that incredible strength they've shown when short in numbers, or they can succomb to the turmoil surrounding the club with the undecided future of the new stadium and the lack of signings. Blackburn are 3/1 to win at Goodison - and for Ince's first match in charge, many will be out to impress. They represent a real danger, and a great price for those out for a sneaky away win on the first day. Aston Villa are a good bet to start off with a win over Manchester City. With Frank Sinatra now having to go into exile to avoid being prosecuted for all kinds of naughty things, and Mark Hughes threatening to resign - this hasn't been the best of preparations for Citeh. Who knows what Jo will be like up front - and he's the only signing. Villa have bought well and are managed very well - this is a great chance for them to get off to a flyer and odds of just under evens will suffice. I think West Ham will struggle this season, and Curbishley may be the first manager to be lined up for the chop. They've got a tricky game against Wigan on Saturday. Wigan are a side who can surprise on their day, and I'll be putting a sneaky couple of quid on Steve Bruce's side to nick a win at 3/1. All of the so-called Big 4 have relatively easy starts - expect Chelsea to edge Pompey at Stamford Bridge, Liverpool to edge Sunderland, Man Utd to hammer Newcastle and Arsenal to edge West Brom with a late winner reminiscent of so many of those struggles at the Emirates last year. However, ultimately, over the long-term you should be looking at Spurs to win the Premiership without the Big 4 - and Fulham to get more than 40 points with a spread bookie. They'll do that easily with AJ up front and Brede Hangeland at the back - you'll see some pretty good return on your investment if you go with BetHiLo - who are offering a free £30 credit to your account if you apply today. However, if you're wagering on the footie now - sign up with Centrebet today: Click Here and get a free shirt when you bet £40 or more on the football - any shirt you like! var uri = 'http://impgb.tradedoubler.com/imp?type(inv)g(17066920)a(1511557)' + new String (Math.random()).substring (2, 11); document.write(''); Go to Centrebet Now for a free £20 matched bet - any odds you like. 2008-08-12T16:38:01+00:00 http://freebetbookmaker.com/free-bets/content/news_blog/kp_to_get_a_ton_at_the_oval/ http://freebetbookmaker.com/free-bets/content/news_blog/kp_to_get_a_ton_at_the_oval/#When:16:27:00Z Fancy Captain KP scoring 100 at the Oval? It’s a happy hunting ground, so get 5/2 with Coral var uri = ‘http://impgb.tradedoubler.com/imp?type(inv)g(17218732)a(1511557)’ + new String (Math.random()).substring (2, 11); document.write(’‘); and you’ll get a free £10 bet from them too. var uri = 'http://impgb.tradedoubler.com/imp?type(img)g(1051886)a(1511557)' + new String (Math.random()).substring (2, 11); document.write(''); To be honest, I wasn't overjoyed at the appointment of Kevin Pietersen as England captain. Whereas Vaughan brought echoes of Hutton and Brearley, this selection brought echoes of Botham and Flintoff - captains whose natural flair and instinct were shackled by the chains of captaincy. Following in the footsteps of Michael Vaughan will never be easy, so Pietersen's ego will stand him in good stead when it comes to making comparisons. Vaughan was England's most successful ever captain, and one of our most inventive. Having won the Ashes for the first time since the 80's, Vaughan will forever be remembered for his exploits against the Australians - which are the only ones that mattered. His downfall came due to a lack of resources and some peculiar selection issues - not necessarily his lack of form with the bat. England captains rarely follow the Indian model of promote and demote - once a captain resigns, he retires and is never seen again. We can only hope that Vaughan returns to the England side after a stint with Yorkshire, and finds the form that made him one of the world's most entertaining batsmen. Pietersen will soon find out the pressures of the job. Many have said that Andrew Strauss was the natural successor, but the truth is that Pietersen was the first name on the team sheet every time - Strauss's position is under threat due to a lack of runs. However, I believe that Strauss took to captaincy like a duck to water - and the responsibility helped his batting, as his averages attest. Pietersen's natural instinct to attack will be put to the test - after all, a captain leads by example! So, if you fancy Pietersen to hit a century in his first test as captain - get these odds: 5/2 with Coral - and have £10 free bet, no questions asked. var uri = 'http://impgb.tradedoubler.com/imp?type(inv)g(17218732)a(1511557)' + new String (Math.random()).substring (2, 11); document.write(''); 2008-08-06T16:27:00+00:00 http://freebetbookmaker.com/free-bets/content/news_blog/top_10_worst_football_kits_of_all_time_do_better_with_a_free_shirt_from_cen/ http://freebetbookmaker.com/free-bets/content/news_blog/top_10_worst_football_kits_of_all_time_do_better_with_a_free_shirt_from_cen/#When:17:29:00Z It’s that time of the year when new kits are revealed and paraded for the first time. We’ve got our Top 10 Worst Kits of all time - and a free one from Centrebet if you sign up today. On with the parade..... Fancy a better kit than any of this rubbish? Sign up with Centrebet and get yourself any football shirt of your choosing - FREE. Sign up with Centrebet and get yourself any football shirt of your choosing - FREE. 10.Cameroon thought they were being really clever with this 'revolutionary' kit that would help their players breathe better, run better, and if they were lucky, not lose before the quarter final stage as they usually do. However, someone forgot to tell the kitmakers that the sleeves actually fell off after about an hour's wear - and the whole thing was shredded after 90 minutes. No wonder nobody ever swapped shirts with the Cameroon team after the match! Down on the list because it's just bloody stupid. 9. Fiorentina. Now someone explain this one to me - kit design has a process, yes? There's a concept process, where a few kits are mocked up and shown to a bunch of people who say 'I like this one but not those five', and then it goes to the design process, it gets approved, it gets made, it gets put in the shops and then someone turns around and says 'hang on - it's got swastikas all over it'. It's not like a comma slipping out of a newspaper article type of error - this was Fiorentina's away kit, covered in Nazi symbolism. You've got to admire them for their, erm, courage? 8. Athletic Bilbao. I've always had a soft spot for the Basques - those big-nosed beret-wearing fighters who, it is now believed, were the first settlers in Great Britain thousands of years ago, and the first settlers anywhere in Europe. They're old, you see. Older than us. And don't say the Free Bet Bookmaker only teaches you about betting and sports stuff! We know loads, us. So, back to the kit. My God, it's grim isn't it. Here's what probably happened. Some kid with photoshop is playing around with images of sick and adds a red filter to it. After applying a few effects to the sick, he then transposes it onto a football kit and prints it out. His father, who is about to send off his images to the kitmaker of Athletic Bilbao for the final design of their new kit, gets them mixed up, sends the wrong one, gets the sack, hits the bottle big time, his wife leaves him and the kid continues to take the drugs that helped him design this God-awful mess. 7. Anything worn by Jorge Campos - especially this. Oh he's such a character isn't he, little Campos? He leaps around and jokes and all that - and he wears some of the most ridiculous outfits ever seen on a football field. Would Gordon Banks have worn this? I very much doubt it. The only reasoning I can think of is that he's trying to blind the opposition strikers. It never worked. And this came at the same time his teammates were all wearing this: 6. Mexico. Seriously, tie-dye? Tie-dye never went out of fashion because it was never IN fashion - although nobody ever told the Mexican team because they proudly paraded themselves around - albiet for a thankfully short length of time - in this monstrosity. That's meant to be Montezuma, you know. With a hangover. 5. Coventry. What gets me most about this kit is not actually the kit itself, but the look on the fella's face, which seems to say "Do I really have to have my photo taken in this stupid brown kit?" Well yes, and you aren't helping your case by growing your ginger hair into a perm. One fashion no-no would have Gok running a mile, but in this case, he's probably quite turned on. This was also the time when football kit makers decided to introduce those awful 'swoosh' lines that were supposed to make fat footballers look slim. Not happening. 4. Naarwich City. Delightful. Now, not many people would take notice if Norwich were wearing this kit in, say, the 3rd division, but noooo, they decided to wear it when they were actually TOP OF THE LEAGUE. Remember those days? Them and Coventry battling it out - albeit until October when they remembered they were shite and that they had Efan Ekoku in the side. This kit is more like bird sick than anything else, and quite how they got away with it, no one knows. 3. Chelsea. There were quite a few opportunities for Chelsea kits, including that horrific grey and orange combo that they wore a few years ago. This one, however, takes the biscuit. Of all the ways to combine red and white, they had to choose this one. Just looking at it makes you go cross-eyed, and the fact that they were sponsored by Commodore only adds to the effect. Brilliant. 2. Hull City. If every club took their nickname and applied it to their shirt, then football would be a very very ugly place. Everton would be a toffee-coloured brown, and Liverpool would be the colour of shite. Hull City, though, took this to the extreme, and decided to dress themselves up as tigers. Because - wait for it - they're nicknamed 'The Tigers'. Instead, they ended up looking like Marlene Boyce with hairy legs - and with all the class. What's more, they have Nick Barmby, an even greater reason to hate this kit. Dreadful, just dreadful. 1. Scunthorpe. There really is nothing more I can say about this kit. It's everything about the 80's / early 90's that was wrong about football kits. It's as if Timmy Mallett put on a pink shirt, covered himself in superglue and plunged head-first into the sweets section at Woolworths. An absolute abomination that is only compounded by the fact they were sponsored by Pleasure Island at the time. Scunthorpe, I salute you. Think you can find a decent shirt? Fancy a better kit than any of this rubbish? Sign up with Centrebet and get yourself any football shirt of your choosing - FREE. Sign up with Centrebet and get yourself any football shirt of your choosing - FREE. 2008-08-05T17:29:00+00:00 http://freebetbookmaker.com/free-bets/content/news_blog/i_hate_the_olympics/ http://freebetbookmaker.com/free-bets/content/news_blog/i_hate_the_olympics/#When:17:07:00Z God I hate the Olympics. What a complete and utter waste of my and everyone else’s time. A parade of drugged-up muscle-heads competing to be ‘fast’ before disappearing off for another four years. Ban them, and ban them now! I hate leap years. Why do I hate leap years? Because leap years contain the bloody Olympics - three weeks of people running in circles and throwing stuff, blissfully ignorant of the fact that nobody gives a flying toss about their 'sport' outside of the Olympics anyway. For three weeks, we have to put up with this pompous nonsense about the spirit of the Olympics as some non-entity runs in with a flame and we talk about the history of it, yadi yadi ya, and isn't it fantastic that we get to watch women's weightlifting? Seriously - if you really enjoyed watching women's weightlifting, you'd be watching it every week. But instead, you wait four years for it to come around? Incredible. There will be people who get up at 3 in the morning just to watch some enormous Ukranian woman and her snatch. And there are others who get up to watch the weightlifting. Ho, and if I may, ho. I digress. And what of fencing? Does anyone ever watch fencing? So what, pray tell, makes it such compulsive bloody viewing that it has to take over the whole television schedule while it's on? The Olympics is full of dire sporting events that nobody but those who take part in them care about. I personally participate in regular snail races down at the farm, but do I grab hold of the IOC by the balls, demand a slot in the Olympics and then take over the TV schedules? Maybe I ought to - it seems the only way to earn a penny out of it. The Olympics barges its way into the summer when we should be focusing on proper summer sporting events such as Glorious Goodwood, the start of the football season and the business end of the cricket season. Instead, we're watching Zoltan's amazing canoeing exploits while the Lithuanian badminton team makes great progress into the semi-finals. I hate the Olympics because of the amount of money pumped into this rubbish. 2 billion pounds, it's going to cost us, when we host the thing. And that's just a conservative estimate. By the time we get round to it, it'll probably be triple that amount, and we're unlikely to see any of it back. All that to watch a Ukranian woman's snatch? The government is spending our tax money on this over-hyped event and we'll never see it back. We'll have some massive (empty) stadiums - a velodrome that will never be used again - at least in China they've got enough people to go out and use these things afterwards - most English kids are too busy eating crisps and stabbing each other. I also hate the Olympics because you can't bloody bet on it. What a waste of time - the bookies are right to ignore it. The only odds you can get are China to get more medals than the US (or vice versa), and let's face it - this is a political thing so China ARE going to get more medals than the US. So bet on that, and you might well win a few pennies. But the whole thing's so bloody random, no bookie is going to offer you odds - especially on a large Ukranian woman and her snatch! So roll on the football season and roll on the climax of the cricket season. Give us some real sport that people care about day in, day out - not once every four years! 2008-08-04T17:07:00+00:00 http://freebetbookmaker.com/free-bets/content/news_blog/will_wie_ever_win_no_back_lorena_ochoa_at_10_3_today_and_get_a_free_bet/ http://freebetbookmaker.com/free-bets/content/news_blog/will_wie_ever_win_no_back_lorena_ochoa_at_10_3_today_and_get_a_free_bet/#When:21:42:01Z Get a free bet with Paddy Power and spend it on Lorena Ochoa at Sunningdale. As for Michelle Wie - well, she didn’t even make it - will she ever win anything? Click here to get a free £25 bet with Paddy Power She was the golden girl of golf for a while, but Michelle Wie has faded dramatically and is still trying to gain entry into the men's circuit with her eighth attempt at getting onto a tournament - this time at the USPGA. Good luck to her, but the talk of women's golf is not Wie anymore - it's Lorena Ochoa. Last year's British Open champion Lorena Ochoa is currently -3 after one round, 4 off the pace which is close enough to keep her status as 10/3 favourite. 48-year old Juli Inkster was the talk of the day with an excellent -7 round of 65 - but the talk was all about Wie, whose non-appearance was another blow to women's golf. Someone who has hardly set the world alight, regularly failing to miss the cut in tournaments, who believes she can mix it with the men. Wie was even disqualified a couple of weeks ago for failing to sign her scorecard, although she believes her game is getting better and better, and this time might be eighth time lucky. However, at the women's open, it's Lorena Ochoa who has our vote - she's the reigning champion, the world number one, and at 10/3 represents decent value. You may be advised to wait until the second round is over to get slightly longer odds - but the Mexican oozes class and consistency. Click here to get a free £25 bet with Paddy Power 2008-07-31T21:42:01+00:00 http://freebetbookmaker.com/free-bets/content/news_blog/bet_on_leggy_jelena_jankovic_in_montreal/ http://freebetbookmaker.com/free-bets/content/news_blog/bet_on_leggy_jelena_jankovic_in_montreal/#When:17:06:00Z So much of the money has been pouring on Ana Ivanovic and Maria Sharapova that many people have forgotten how out of sorts they both were at Wimbledon. Instead, look for better value with Jelena Jankovic - and choose from our free bets on this market to make yourself some extra money. Back Jelena here at Betfair - you'll get a £10 free bet, and odds of around 7.8 I've always had a soft spot for Jelena Jankovic - whether she's doing the splits or not. So looking at the market on Betfair for the outright winner, she looks great value at a current 7.8. Quite what the fuss is these days about Maria Sharapova (apart from the obvious, non-tennis playing aspect), I will never know. Ana Ivanovic has at least won something of late, despite her dip in form - but the two are far too short to represent any value at a tournament that will have relatively little meaning. And without the Williams sisters, only Dinara Safina and Svetlana Kuznetsova represent much of a challenge. This leaves the way clear for Jelena Jankovic, who is out to avenge her recent defeat to Safina, a defeat that denied her the number 1 spot in the World Rankings. It's the perfect warm-up for the Olympics, and the perfect stage for Jankovic to try out her skills - and that isn't just doing the splits. Back her here at Betfair - you'll get a £10 free bet, and odds of around 7.8 2008-07-28T17:06:00+00:00 http://freebetbookmaker.com/free-bets/content/news_blog/back_england_at_edgbaston_and_get_a_25_pounds_free_bet_from_totesport/ http://freebetbookmaker.com/free-bets/content/news_blog/back_england_at_edgbaston_and_get_a_25_pounds_free_bet_from_totesport/#When:16:31:00Z We’re going for two bets here - and two free bets in the process. England might consider Lords to be the home of cricket, but Edgbaston is England’s home at the moment - back them at 11/4 with Totesport and get a 25 pounds free bet - and lay the draw with Betfair for a 10 pounds free bet. Here's your £25 free bet from Totesport... ... and here's your free £10 from Betfair. We'll get to the T&C's in a second - but first the important thing - why on earth are we backing such a lame England side? Surely after Headingley we ought to know better? England haven't had much luck since the start of the Lord's test. At Headingley, they were put in to bat in dreadful batting conditions and when the South Africans got out there, the weather had changed for the better. They might be a tough nut to crack, but they've had the run of the green, and we're taking a leap of faith in saying that they won't get it here. What we do know is that Edgbaston is England's home - loud, raucous and patriotic, Edgbaston seems to bring something out of the England players that other grounds often don't. With 6 wins out of the last 10 and just 2 draws, this is a ground where games often finish within four days - and often in England's favour. England will have a fit again Steve Harmison - mentally fit, that is - and a physically fit Ryan Sidebottom. Paul Collingwood has had the kick up the jacksy that he needed and Vaughan's team will undoubtedly be better prepared than they were for the Headingley Test where a roofer was sprung upon them as if from nowhere. South Africa will have to play without Dale Steyn - so they will lack the aggression that frightened the hell out of England's line up. Ntini and Nel are not quite so fearsome - so they will hope that they win the toss again, bat first, and neuter England's bowling attack. So there it is - England to win at 11/4 with Totesport and lay the draw with Betfair, currently standing at 3.1 at time of writing. Before you go - a little about the Totesport offer before you take it - you must bet on odds of at least 2.0 (EVENS) for your free bet to be given. Your free bet is the equivalent of your first bet - so deposit £25, bet £25 and then get £25. Use your free bet within 30 days, don't go messing around - if you already have a Totesport account, don't think you can get this free bet promotion - you can't. If you haven't got a Totesport account - sign up and see what you're missing out on - it's one of the internet's best bookies with a range of markets others can only envy. £25 free bet from Totesport... ... and free £10 from Betfair. 2008-07-28T16:31:00+00:00