Southeast Asia bookies set to cash in<\/p>\n
SINGAPORE (Reuters): Illegal bookies in gambling crazed
\nSoutheast Asia are poised to make a killing as the World Cup
\nkicks off, offering odds rivaling the best London bookmakers,
\npundits said yesterday.<\/p>\n
\"Millions will be exchanging hands after each game this World
\nCup,\" said one regular punter, who asked not to be identified.
\n\"It's very very hot.\"<\/p>\n
They said soccer betting in the region is controlled by
\nsyndicates from Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand, who have
\nhundreds of runners taking bets for a 5 percent commission from
\nthe winner.<\/p>\n
Soccer betting is illegal in the region, but bets are easily
\nmade for English, Malaysia and Singapore league matches, or even
\ninternationals, if the punter knows the right contacts.<\/p>\n
At a trial in Singapore, an illegal bookmaker said he made
\nabout S$20 million (US$11.7 million) within five months in 1994,
\nfixing games in Malaysia and Singapore.<\/p>\n
A slew of players have been charged for match-fixing in the
\nregion over the past three years, but punters said it was highly
\nunlikely the long arm of the syndicates would reach France.<\/p>\n
\"There was a lot of talk during the English league of match-
\nfixing. But for the World Cup there's nothing,\" the punter said.<\/p>\n
For today's opening game of the World Cup, the syndicates are
\noffering \"one and a half ball\" odds on for Brazil to beat
\nScotland -- which means that if you bet on Brazil to win the
\ndefending champion has to win by two goals before you win any
\nmoney.<\/p>\n
A Malaysian businessman was cleared in England of match-fixing
\nlast August after a second trial, which included former Liverpool
\ngoalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar. The first jury had failed to reach a
\nverdict.<\/p>",
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