World Cup fuels steady action at local books
It was the lowest-scoring opening set of games since 1998, but that hasn’t stopped World Cup fans from getting in on the betting action in Las Vegas.
The first matches of the group stage each averaged 1.6 goals, well below the 2.4 average of the 2006 Cup. It’s the lowest average through the first phase of competition since before the field expanded to 32 teams in 1998.
Still, sports books are seeing plenty of action.
“It’s progressed each year. The ’06 (World Cup) was our largest handle, and this one’s exceeding ’06,” Las Vegas Hilton oddsmaker Jeff Sherman said. “Our daily handle has exceeded what our daily handle was last time at this point.”
Many teams seem to be growing less defensive and taking more chances. The first seven games of the second wave have averaged 2.5 goals, so the “under” might not always be the safe pick in a World Cup in which the average total line is two goals.
“Usually in the first game in the group stage, neither team wants to lose, so they’re playing a lot more conservative, and that’s causing the lower scoring,” Sherman said. “As it goes on, situations play out and teams need to win. You’ll see some more open games, and I think you’ll see the scoring increase a little bit.”
The most popular wagers have involved the United States, but squads from Mexico, England, Japan, Spain and others have also drawn betting interest.
“We’ve definitely had a lot of support for the U.S.,” M Resort sports book director Mike Colbert said. “It’s kind of tough, because we always need the other side (for the house) — it’s hard to root against your own country.”
Colbert said there has been considerable action on the Americans winning the tournament. But a more common wager is the United States advancing to the quarterfinals.
Timing has been a major factor in the World Cup’s draw to sports books.
“The best thing for this is the time of year this is being played,” Sherman said. “Once Game 7 of the (NBA) Finals is done, it’s basically just soccer and baseball. It’s not going up against the NFL, or college basketball. It’s the most opportune time to get people to shift their money to something like this, which they might not normally do.”
The Hilton and M Resort reported packed houses for most games.
“We have (some) guys who come in, make their bets and leave, but more people who stay and watch the game,” Colbert said. “I couldn’t have imagined soccer being this popular (a few years ago). If you had told me two years ago that soccer would be this popular and Americans would be betting on it like this, I wouldn’t have believed you.”
Contact reporter Sean Walker at
swalker@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0430.
