Despite drought, bettors believe in U.S. women’s soccer team

When Brandi Chastain tore off her jersey in celebration after scoring the winning goal on a penalty kick against China in 1999, the U.S. women’s soccer team was on top of the world.

While the popularity of the team has continued to grow with the help of young crossover stars such as Alex Morgan and Sydney Leroux, Chastain’s magical moment marks the last time the World Cup was hoisted by Team USA.

The Americans are favored to end that streak of futility this year, entering the tournament at about plus-200 to win. Germany, champions in 2003 and 2007, is the second choice at plus-300. Defending champion Japan, France and Brazil are around 7-1, depending on the sports book.

Betting on the Women’s World Cup, which began Saturday with two games, is still a growing market. Southern Nevada sports books vary in how much action they expect over the course of the month.

Michael Grodsky, director of marketing for William Hill, called the handle “light” so far, but added the company expects to do fairly steady business on in-play wagering during the tournament.

Golden Nugget sports book director Tony Miller said he has been disappointed in the amount of money to come through his windows. He thinks the total amount wagered on the event will be comparable to a good college football game.

“We put it up late, but when we did, we didn’t get a lot of big money,” Miller said. “We got mostly kibbles and bits. I’m getting $5 and $10 bets right now. The tourists might start playing it as the games are on and up on the video walls, but it’s been slow.”

Jay Kornegay, the sports book director at Westgate Las Vegas, said bettors’ interest appears to be on the rise.

“A lot more than you think,” Kornegay said. “Four years ago, we didn’t put up any of the group play games, and so many people were asking about it, we eventually had to do it. This year is different. Now, we’re doing three-way and two-way betting. Especially with the expanded TV coverage, we expect steady action on all these games and not just the U.S. games.”

Three-way betting puts a price on both teams to win outright and on the draw, meaning those who bet on either team to win would lose in the case of a tie. In two-way betting, there is essentially a point spread, and pushes are refunded.

The U.S. is a minus-500 favorite in Monday’s group play opener against Australia in three-way betting, with Australia 13-1 to win outright. The draw is plus-650. The U.S. is favored by two goals on the two-way line.

A deep run by the U.S. team would be good for the handle, though there is some exposure, as most of the future bets are on the Americans to win the tournament.

Grodsky said 75 percent of the money bet at William Hill has been on the U.S. team to win the trophy. That trend probably won’t change.

“Like the men’s World Cup, we will see a lot of patriotic money coming from the masses on USA,” Grodsky said.

Miller agreed.

“If the USA advances, especially being next door in Canada, and it starts picking up some steam, I think we’ll get action,” he said. “It’s not like the men’s tournament, where they just pour in and bet every single game like a big event no matter who plays. I think it will take the USA to start piquing some interest to draw anything.”

Miller picked Brazil to win the tournament.

“Only because of Marta,” he said. “She’s the best women’s player in the world. Germany is dangerous, too.”

Nate Silver’s FiveThirty Eight gives the United States a 28 percent chance of winning the World Cup, with Germany at 27 percent. No other team has more than a 10 percent chance, according to the statistical analysis website’s numbers.

Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509. Follow him on Twitter: @adamhilllvrj.