Southeast Asia bookies set to cash in

Southeast Asia bookies set to cash in

SINGAPORE (Reuters): Illegal bookies in gambling crazed
Southeast Asia are poised to make a killing as the World Cup
kicks off, offering odds rivaling the best London bookmakers,
pundits said yesterday.

"Millions will be exchanging hands after each game this World
Cup," said one regular punter, who asked not to be identified.
"It's very very hot."

They said soccer betting in the region is controlled by
syndicates from Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand, who have
hundreds of runners taking bets for a 5 percent commission from
the winner.

Soccer betting is illegal in the region, but bets are easily
made for English, Malaysia and Singapore league matches, or even
internationals, if the punter knows the right contacts.

At a trial in Singapore, an illegal bookmaker said he made
about S$20 million (US$11.7 million) within five months in 1994,
fixing games in Malaysia and Singapore.

A slew of players have been charged for match-fixing in the
region over the past three years, but punters said it was highly
unlikely the long arm of the syndicates would reach France.

"There was a lot of talk during the English league of match-
fixing. But for the World Cup there's nothing," the punter said.

For today's opening game of the World Cup, the syndicates are
offering "one and a half ball" odds on for Brazil to beat
Scotland -- which means that if you bet on Brazil to win the
defending champion has to win by two goals before you win any
money.

A Malaysian businessman was cleared in England of match-fixing
last August after a second trial, which included former Liverpool
goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar. The first jury had failed to reach a
verdict.