Posted on 01/18/2010 1:58:26 PM PST by MarkAccord
BOSTON --With 24 hours to go before Massachusetts' special election for a U.S. Senate seat, an Irish bookie already has paid off bettors who wagered that state Sen. Scott Brown, a conservative Republican, would win the seat held for nearly 50 years by liberal Democratic icon Edward M. Kennedy.
Enough is enough. It seems that Senator Brown just has to get out of bed tomorrow to win convincingly. As far as were concerned, this race is well and truly over," said Paddy Power, Irelands largest bookmaker.
Before shutting down the betting, Mr. Brown had gone from 5-4 odds to 1-5 (meaning if a bettors put down $5, they only stood to make $1 if Mr. Brown wins). The odds against his opponent -- Democrat Martha Coakley, the state's attorney general -- soared, from 4-7 to win to 3-1 to lose.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
It’s seems odd, a turf accountant paying off before the steward’s inquiry is finished. He must have inside information.
From on the ground it appears highly unlikely that Chokely can pull it out.
Remember, bookies don’t win or lose bets, bettors do. Bookies balance competing bets and take a cut. Who wins or loses does not matter to a bookie unless s/he can’t balance the bets. When they see that problem coming they close the betting.
Gamblers will offer to pay off a bet early because they think it is bad luck for the other side. Phil Ivey, renowned poker player and gambler, has offered to pay up before on huge bets and no one ever takes him up on it because it is considered bad luck.
Is this the same bookie that pissed us all off by paying off the Obama bets early last year? Link anybody?
Just to remind you all that us freepers called him dumb...
I hope that Brown wins but the fat lady hasn't sung yet.
It appears that the Dems are giving up too easily on Kennedy's old seat. Something stinks and I don't trust them.
What if you bet on Coakley and what if she wins does the Irish bookie payoff both sides?
I share you concerns, but the mood here is shifting overwhelmingly to Brown. If they get cute they may find that every elected Democrat in Massachusetts is in trouble.
Numerous betting shops and books in the UK and Ireland paid off the Zerobama-McQueeg race prior to election day last year. This is not an uncommon occurrence; however, that said, either your suggestion must be valid and the book is very well informed, or the proprietor is a fool. The latter proposition is distinctly unlikely, btw.
Guess so
That’s extraordinary. It means he doesn’t want any more action at the price, however prohibitive. Shrewd son of the sod, that one.
Yeah, and Brown’s intrade numbers are very nice...
Meet the Depressed had the Pod and Halperin saying Croakley would 'grind it out' and win. Those two have never been right about anything since 1995. F--- them. Brown wins by 5, and I rub Halperin's face in it.
Great.......we’ve got us a winner...Scott Brown
.
I vas trink tobee funny
RR at 6:00pm here
Man, oh man...this stuff is making me nervous. I have this awful feeling the Dems are doing this to depress the Brown vote. Too much hype.
Yes, he would definitely have to pay off the Coakley bets. He could conceivably try to recover his bets from the Brown voters, but good luck locating them and collecting from them.
I guess he thinks the chances are low, and worst case he has lost money but got a lot of publicity and good will from it.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.