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Podcast: https://timharford.com/2023/05/cautionary-tales-the-man-who-bet-his-house-on-a-song/
Web story: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-65388335
RIP DG
"Are you tempted to bet on the outcome of Eurovision? One man made a living out of taking such gambles, betting his home as collateral… until the year his luck seemed to run out.
For many viewers, the best part of Eurovision is the voting. Douze points! Nul points! But can you imagine if the result decided whether you won tens of thousands of pounds - or lost your house?
That agony of anticipation faced Daniel Gould in 2018 - after he literally bet his home on the Eurovision result. As the votes piled up, just two countries were left in contention: Israel and Cyprus. Which would get the bigger televote? The next words out of the presenter's mouth seemed set to shape his life.
Daniel had been a professional Eurovision gambler for nearly a decade. Yes, you read that right."
WFM but it is an uplifting tale, until it isn't.
Web story: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-65388335
RIP DG
"Are you tempted to bet on the outcome of Eurovision? One man made a living out of taking such gambles, betting his home as collateral… until the year his luck seemed to run out.
For many viewers, the best part of Eurovision is the voting. Douze points! Nul points! But can you imagine if the result decided whether you won tens of thousands of pounds - or lost your house?
That agony of anticipation faced Daniel Gould in 2018 - after he literally bet his home on the Eurovision result. As the votes piled up, just two countries were left in contention: Israel and Cyprus. Which would get the bigger televote? The next words out of the presenter's mouth seemed set to shape his life.
Daniel had been a professional Eurovision gambler for nearly a decade. Yes, you read that right."
WFM but it is an uplifting tale, until it isn't.
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Fed up hearing about Eurovision as the BBC throw the kitchen sink at it.
It's just a massive gay fest with a load rubbish songs attached to it. This year it took me about 10 minutes to go through the songs, and that was akin to torture.
I have made a profit, and defended it in the past, but it is no longer worth bothering with. If by some miracle there was a decent song the idiot voters would probably overlook it. I preferred it when you could win it with 50 points, and not every tom, dick, and harry entered.
It's just a massive gay fest with a load rubbish songs attached to it. This year it took me about 10 minutes to go through the songs, and that was akin to torture.
I have made a profit, and defended it in the past, but it is no longer worth bothering with. If by some miracle there was a decent song the idiot voters would probably overlook it. I preferred it when you could win it with 50 points, and not every tom, dick, and harry entered.
I too don't like Eurovision and never watch it. I guess the reason a few people can make money off it is that they are prepared to put in the hours, in a way you and I are not and the guy in the podcast was.
He had his own website: sofabet.com
Just looked and it's still there, just as he left it before he died.
150 million people are estimated to watch it. I was told about 10 years ago that it bought more new punters to Betfair than any other annual betting event.
Like most things, it's a lot harder to make money on it now than in the recent past.
Just looked and it's still there, just as he left it before he died.
150 million people are estimated to watch it. I was told about 10 years ago that it bought more new punters to Betfair than any other annual betting event.
Like most things, it's a lot harder to make money on it now than in the recent past.
I used to bet on it reasonably heavily when they introduced the televote, but nowhere near the level of Daniel Gould, and only once they started live dress rehearsals, a week before the event. Only lost overall a couple of times I think in the 12 or so years I did it. What made me quit was when they combined the juries and the televote. I had a natural feel for the televote results, but not the juries, and I wasn't prepared to put the effort in to try and understand them. I remember my main bet the year I stopped taking a good interest was a lay of Australia to be top 10 a few years ago. The juries gave them 150 odd points and the televote about 7 (someat like that) and they finished 10th. I was thoroughly p1ssed off. For the life of me I just couldn't understand how the juries scored it so highly.
Differentdrum,l couldn’t agree more with your second paragraph.Nauseating.
Clydebank, re your post of 11.52, you could have put up a spoiler alert. Some of us haven't seen the podcast yet!
The best thing about it used to be when Wogan used to say, "Now I want you to look out for the guy at the back with the Bongo's" etc etc
Zalensky wanted to make an appearance VIA Zoom , he has been fooked orf out of it
They obviously don't want Ukraine winning again.
A lot of the experts done the bow locks on Ukraine last year. Probably still think that the sheep piling into Ukraine got lucky
A lot of the experts done the bow locks on Ukraine last year. Probably still think that the sheep piling into Ukraine got lucky
Its ok for a small flutter while enjoying a glass or two in good company. Duffy quite right about Wogan stealing the show, it is said used to drink a bottle of Bailys during his stint.
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