While France (Rs 550 insured against Rs 100) emerged as the second choice, Spain (Rs 750) emerged as the third choice. The England team (Rs 1,000), which showed a lot of promise in the first match before being stranded against the US in the second match, occupies fourth place. Argentina, despite its shocking first round defeat, continues to find a place on the bookies list.
Globally, however, the order is slightly different. Brazil is the favorite here too: the odds add up to a return of $12 (any currency) for betting five on it. Spain, England and France are all going $13 in return for investing $2 in them. Argentina will give you a return of 9 dollars for every dollar wagered on them in case the team led by Messi takes the cup. Bets were also placed for the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium.
Brazil’s popularity isn’t limited to the city’s more organized betting syndicates, however. Several unofficial bets – placed between colleges and offices – ranging from a couple of hundred rupees to a sweet treat at a top-rated restaurant are also seeing the Samba boys take pole position.
The bets, at this moment, however, are not on eventual winners. “The betting amounts are small and are mostly related to the results of individual matches and on which two teams from each group will progress to the next round,” said a police source who is involved in monitoring the online betting.
Brazil’s win against Serbia in Thursday night’s opening game made them bookmakers’ favorites to win the title. “Brazil usually gets into the rhythm as the tournament progresses. However, the loss of Neymar, at least for now, could upset plans and the odds will change. The Switzerland match will be a test by fire, but if they win comfortably, nobody can stop them,” said Lake Town’s Satish Ahuja (name changed) who bet on Brazil and France’s Kylian Mbappe to finish with the most goal .
A Calcutta police officer, who had not made any arrests during the ICC T20 World Cup, said destroying the betting rackets was no longer an easy task. “All of them are betting online now, the only device they need in remote locations is a smartphone. While we are aware of the bets being placed, we think that as the volume increases in the knockout stages, we have a much better chance of detecting and destroying these rackets,” said an officer from the Investigations Department’s Anti-Rowball Section.
