Category: Betting

Are Golden State and Cleveland Headed for third Championship Battle?

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

The Golden State Warriors just beat Houston to extend their winning run to 10 games and they are now all but guaranteed the top seed berth in the Western Conference. A couple of weeks ago the Warriors were in real danger following Kevin Durrant’s injury sparked a bad slump in form. They have bounced back in style and are now 4/5 favourites with Betway to win the NBA Championship.

There are just six or seven games to go before the end of the regular season now, and the playoff picture is becoming a lot clearer, with several teams having already punched their postseason tickets. Yet a few teams’ chances of making the playoffs are teetering on a knife edge, so there are lots of big games still to bet on.

Futures Update

There are no longer any lines on the division winners as they have been pretty much sewn up by Golden State, San Antonio, Utah, Cleveland, Boston and Washington. Futures betting now hinges on who will win each conference and the Championship. In the west, Golden State has hit form at just the right time. When Durrant returns they will be even stronger and look destined for a third consecutive Finals appearance, despite the threat of San Antonio and Houston. Paddy Power has 4/9 on Golden State. Whether it will meet Cleveland for a third year running is another matter entirely.

The Cavs have led the way in the east for most of the season, but have ceded the lead to the Celtics in the past week. If Boston can hold on and claim the top seed spot, they can really be a threat in the playoffs and look a good option in the east at 6/1 with William Hill and Ladbrokes, while Washington is an interesting outsider at 10/1 with Bet Victor.

There is also the small matter of who will be named regular season MVP. James Harden is leading the way but it is still very close between him and Russell Westbrook, who have been the best two offensive players in the league by some distance this season. One thing worth noting is that while most bookmakers will only go to 1/2 on Harden, William Hill is offering 4/5, so that is a generous set of odds as he is expected to just about pip Westbrook to the honour, as his Rockets have been better than Westbrook’s Thunder this season and he has been breaking all sorts of records.

Upcoming Games

In the east three teams – the Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat and Indiana Pacers – have an identical record but only two can go to the playoffs. Their games should prove interesting in the week ahead. Chicago is on a three-game winning streak and should beat the Knicks ( who are 3-7 in their last 10) on Wednesday and cover a reasonable spread, but the Pacers are likely to lose to the Raptors. On Thursday, Miami faces a tough game against the Hornets and Charlotte looks a good bet.

NBA betting becomes more interesting as Golden State Warriors implode

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

The Golden State Warriors are going through their worst spell in years as they are 5-5 in their past 10 games and on a three-game losing streak. After going 146 games without suffering back-to-back defeats, it has happened twice this month. The downturn in form has coincided with the loss of Kevin Durant to injury, and suddenly the Warriors have gone from near certainties to win the NBA Championships to a team in real trouble. It has blown the battle to win the Western Conference wide open and the NBA is looking more unpredictable and exciting than it has all season.

Western Conference

Golden State finished the 2015 regular season with a win percentage of .817, the seventh best record in NBA history. Last season they finished on .890, breaking the Chicago Bulls’ 20-year record to post the best regular season stats of all time. They looked like putting in another record-shattering season this time around, but the wheels have really come off this month. They are now down at .788, well below their levels of the previous two years, as they have lost half of their last 10 games. That seemed unthinkable a few weeks ago, and it shows how much they have relied on Durant this season.

As the Warriors have faltered, the San Antonio Spurs have continued to be sensational. They are 9-1 in their last 10 games, they are now .785 and if they win their game in hand they will have an identical record to Golden State. The momentum is with them and they are now likely to claim top seed in the west. The 4/1 Paddy Power and 888 Sport are offering on the Spurs to win the Western Conference suddenly looks really interesting. It could even open the door for the Houston Rockets (12/1 with William Hill, Ladbrokes and Coral), who are led by MVP frontrunner James Harden, scoring of 30-plus points in three of his last four games.

NBA Championships

Golden State seemed invincible, but their recent struggles have made things a lot more interesting in futures betting. They have gone out to 5/6, and interest is building on the Cleveland Cavaliers (14/5 with Bet365) and the Spurs (7/1 with 888 Sport). The Cavs are defending champions but have lost three straight too and have been horribly inconsistent all season. They have the best record in the east, at .672, but that record would leave them down in fourth if they were in the west, below the Warriors, Spurs and Rockets. They may be saving themselves for the playoffs, but these are worrying signs.

An interesting long shot from the east could be the Washington Wizards. They are 7-3 in their last 10 and on a five-game winning streak. They are second in the standings and could soon overhaul the Cavs for top seed if things continue in this vein. They have all the momentum after starting the season at 2-8 and turning it around to leave them 42-24. It has been a remarkable improvement, and they are in with a chance, so 33/1 at Bet Victor, Paddy Power and Boyle Sports looks great.

Upcoming Games

On Wednesday, the Philadelphia 76ers travel to California to face an out of sorts Golden State. Philadelphia has the best record in spread betting this season, and backing them to beat the spread here looks a good idea. On Thursday, the Spurs host in-form Portland and should put an end to the Trail Blazers’ streak by winning comfortably. On Friday, the Wizards host the Chicago Bulls and the Boston Celtics are in Brooklyn to play the Nets. Boston and Washington are the form teams of the east and should both win against poor opposition, so that might make a nice double.

The Launch of Sun Bets

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

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Betting Giant, Sun Bets, is finally here!

The UK bookie officially opens its doors to punters today, August 2nd, 2016. Click the link to get an account and get a free £10 bet.  Plus win £1,000 of free bets every day.

Sun Bets Introduction:

The UK bookie officially opens its doors to punters today, August 2nd, 2016. Boasting a multi-million pound campaign, the brand explodes to the market; headed by News UK’s in-house agency, Pulse Creative, backed by racing expert, Matt Chapman and ex-England team-mate, Ian Wright.

Media conglomerate News Corp, in alliance with The Sun Newspaper & Australia’s Tab Corp, have come together with the aim of providing betters with the nation’s strongest sports & horse-racing platform. Sun Bets presence will be exclusively on-line throughout their site and mobile apps.

The Sun has solidified themselves as a key player in the gambling market over the past 10 years. The popularity of online Bingo has seen the Sun’s Bingo arm, sunbingo.com, prosper enormously – their quality product, coupled with their above the line media promotion has secured their Bingo brand as one of the strongest in the UK for player base & brand recognition.

With strong brand equity, an innovative product & relevant market experience, it was almost natural progression that the Sun would expand into the broader sports-betting vertical. News UK CEO, Rebekah Brooks believes ‘This is a hugely significant juncture for News UK and The Sun, marking the start of an era where new brands and revenue generating streams are being created on the back of the strength and much sought-after reach of The Sun.”

The relationship between The Sun & Tabcorp represents a 10-year agreement; The Sun will commit the media activity, and Tab Corp will leverage their unmatched betting experience to deliver a strong, innovative product to the market.

Sun Bets originally release was scheduled almost two month’s ago, but with the Summer Olympics & The launch of the Premier League season, the launch couldn’t have come at a better time for keen punters. Will the buzz live up to the expectation?

Keep an eye out on Betcirca for the latest news and insights into Sun Bets… And more importantly, exclusive bonus bets!

Reliability & Security:

Undoubtedly, one of the strongest features of Sun Bets is their reliability. News Corp has nearly monopolized the media industry, owning the Times, News UK, Wall St Journal, New York Times, News Corp Australia & Foxtel. News Corp & their house of brands have cemented themselves at the forefront of this industry for years, proving their legitimacy as leaders in customer-satisfaction.

Additionally, Tabcorp have been front-runners in the Australian betting industry since their inception over 22 years ago, holding exclusive licenses to operate physical betting outlets. When it comes to Australian bookmakers, no one is more secure then Tab.

Payment Methods:

As a key player in the English market, you can expect Sun Bets to offer all the popular payment options. Visa Debit and Credit are currently available as well as Mastercard credit and debit. We expect Sun Bets to fully expand their payment options once they formally launch their product.

Currently, Sun Bets operate towards an up to 24 hour time frame when it comes to processing withdrawals. There is then a 3-5 day wait for funds to arrive into your account. This is standard across the majority of the industry.

Gambling Markets:

Sports & Racing are core betting offerings from Sun Bets, with the aim to be market leaders in these two areas. Given Sun Bets launch is inline with the start of the Premier Season, we can expect cracking bonus offers & Football promotions to celebrate the brand’s launch. Already you will notice a “Price Boosts” tab that highlights daily promotions around various headline sporting events taking place each day.

As well as the major sports, Sun Bets has gone to great lengths to offer an exciting novelty betting selection. There is clear synergy between Sun editorial and the offering of special, topical betting opportunities that reside within the daily headlines.

Sun Bets has also ventured into more niche markets such as eSports betting. This is an emerging industry, so having the support of Sun Bets is a clear indication that they’re trying to appeal to a previously untapped demographic of cash rich video gamers.

Customer Support:

Sun Bets have invested in a full suite of support options. Unlike some bookmakers who only provide an email support option, Sun Bets has Live Chat, Email and Phone support. Live Chat and Email are on offer 24/7.

Review:

It’s early days, the site has only just soft launched. All of the markets are available you’d expect across all of the sports you’d expect. Expect a more concise review upon further use and when future website improvements are implemented.

Join today and get a free £10 Free Bet

 

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2015 F1 Spanish Grand Prix Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Nico Rosberg broke Lewis Hamilton’s monopoly on pole position in qualifying in Barcelona, and will start the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona at the front of the grid, with his Mercedes teammate just behind.

With Lewis Hamilton pulling away with a significant 27-point lead in the Drivers’ Championship, Rosberg will need to ensure that he maintains his position at the front and beat the Brit in order to start closing him down before it’s too late.

Rosberg moved ahead of Sebastian Vettel in the standings following a disappointing result for his fellow German at the Bahrain Grand Prix, with Vettel finishing in fifth behind third-place Rosberg and regular victor, Hamilton.

The Spanish crowd will be hoping Fernando Alonso  -who won here in 2013 – can put in a good performance in what has been a poor season for him so far. But their hopes may be better placed in 20-year-old Spaniard Carlo Sainz – son of the double World Rally Champion of the same name – who impressed for Torro Rosso in qualifying to secure fifth-place in the grid. There was another impressive showing from 17-year-old Dutchman, Max Verstappen, also of Toro Rosso, who will line-up in sixth position.

2015 Spanish Grand Prix Grid

  1. Nico Rosberg – Mercedes
  2. Lewis Hamilton – Mercedes
  3. Sebastian Vettel – Ferrari
  4. Valtteri Bottas – Williams
  5. Carlos Sainz – Torro Rosso
  6. Max Verstappen – Toro Rosso

Prediction

It looks set to be another battle between the three usual suspects: Hamilton, Rosberg and Vettel. Of course, based on his supreme form this season, you’d back Hamilton (Evens at BetVictor) to do it again in Barcelona.

However, still without a title this season, you can be sure that Nico Rosberg will be desperate to get one over his teammate and force himself back into the reckoning for the Drivers’ Championship. The German will be itching for success here, but will he have the stubbornness and skill to hold off Hamilton?

If you like a fairy tale story, it may also be worth having a couple of quid on young Carlos Sainz securing a podium finish in his homeland at 33/1 (bet365).

Tip:

Nico Rosberg to win – 11/10 at SkyBet

Spanish F1 Race Details:

Track: Circuit de Catalunya

Start Time: 13:00 BST (14:00 local)

Laps: 66

Track Length: 4.6555km

Tyre Allocation: Hard (orange) and Medium (white)

Lap Record: Kimi Raikkonen – 1:21.670 (Ferrari; 2008)

2015 F1 Bahrain Grand Prix Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Only three people have stepped upon the podium in the first three races of the 2015 Formula One season, and – based on qualifying for Bahrain – that trend looks set to continue as Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel and Nico Rosberg line-up as one, two and three on the grid once again.

Reigning champion, Hamilton, was in imperious form once again at the Chinese Grand Prix last weekend. He produced a controlled performance to keep teammate, Rosberg, at bay, while perfectly executing his tactical plan to land the fast laps as and when he needed them. The win in Shanghai opened up a 13-point gap over second-place Vettel, who had to settle for third-place behind the Mercedes’ pair.

There was some controversy for Mercedes’ though, as ever, regarding the intriguing relationship of Rosberg and Hamilton. In this instance, Rosberg accused the Brit of trying to back him up into Sebastian Vettel – something which Hamilton refuted. Elsewhere, some people were left displeased with Hamilton after he sprayed one of the Chinese hostesses with champagne at the podium celebration – although both parties have moved to play the event down.

Hamilton enjoyed his first victory in Bahrain in 2014, however Vettel had won the two previous Grand Prix events here race. Fernando Alonso is the most successful ever driver here though, with three victories.

2015 Bahrain Grand Prix Starting Grid

  1. Lewis Hamilton – Mercedes
  2. Sebastian Vettel – Ferrari
  3. Nico Rosberg – Mercedes
  4. Kimi Raikkonen – Ferrari
  5. Valtteri Bottas – Williams Mercedes
  6. Felipe Massa – Williams Mercedes

Prediction

The big question that is starting to form this season is whether anyone will break the holy trinity of Hamilton, Vettel and Rosberg to get on the podium? All three have been on the podium for each of the opening three races of the season – a feat that has never been seen before in F1.

Hamilton is, once again, strong favourite to win again in Bahrain at just 1/2 (bet365 and SkyBet), while Sebastian Vettel is reasonably priced to take the title at 7/2 (Betfred).

There only seems to be three contenders at this moment, but someone is surely going to break into the podium positions sooner rather than later. Therefore, best bet for the weekend seems to be expecting one of the Williams Mercedes drivers to finish in the top three. Valtteri Bottas had the better of qualifying over his teammate Felipe Massa, so I’m going with the Finnish driver to secure a podium finish at the very decent price of 13/2 at SkyBet or Paddy Power.

Tip:

Valtteri Bottas to get a podium finish – 13/2 at SkyBet or Paddy Power

Bahrain F1 Race Details:

Track: Bahrain International Circuit

Start Time: 16:00 GMT Sunday (18:00 local)

Laps: 57

Track Length: 5.412

Tyre Allocation: Medium (white) and Soft (yellow)

Lap Record: Pedro de la Rosa – 1:31.447 (McLaren; 2005)

2015 World Snooker Championship Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

The Crucible takes centre stage this weekend as the 78th edition of the World Snooker Championship starts, with Ronnie O’Sullivan eyeing becoming world champion for a sixth time after being denied a third consecutive title by Mark Selby in last year’s final.

Ronnie O’Sullivan – 5/2 at Paddy Power and 888sport

Despite being one of the most experienced players in the field, you never quite know what to expect from the five-time world champion until he has played his first shot.

O’Sullivan pulled out of the recent China Open, but it wasn’t long ago he recorded that stunning 147 break against Matthew Selt at the UK Championship, before narrowly beating Judd Trump in the final.

It is certainly possible that the 39-year-old could rack up another world title in in Sheffield, but will he be in champion mood?

Mark Selby – 17/2 at Coral

Selby, meanwhile, will be hoping to break the ‘Crucible Curse’ – that is, he will hope to become the first first-time champion to successfully defend his title. The 31-year-old heads to Sheffield in good form too, having recently won the German Masters and China Open, becoming the only player to have won two competitions during a season that has so far produced eight different champions from the nine tournaments to date. That said, to add to his curse, no player that has won the China Open has gone on to triumph in the subsequent World Championship. The omens look bleak for Selby.

That said, 17/2 for the world number one player is remarkably good value.

Judd Trump – 6/1 at Betfred or William Hill

It’s nearly a year since Trump won his last ranking event – the Australian Goldfields Open – but does he have what it takes to secure a first world title?

At 6/1, he is considerably shorter that reigning champion Selby, but still only 25, Trump isn’t yet showing the kind of consistency it takes to be a world champion. That said, you only have to look at O’Sullivan to show that consistency isn’t always key.

Neil Robertson – 6/1 at bet365 or Stan James

The 2010 World Champion will be hoping for a successful end to the 2014/15 season. It’s been a decent year for the Australian, although he hasn’t hit the kind of peak form he did in 2013/14.

No doubt he’ll be a contender, and perhaps his previous winning experience will help him keep his nerve at the Crucible.

Best Bet: Mark Selby to win (e/w) – 17/2 at Coral