Saturday, July 03, 2004
The things people do to get their bets in - JULY 4, 2004
The things people do to get their bets in
Greece give Henny ulcers, now he wants the Greeks to pay
By Marc Lim
HENNY YEO is a patient at Changi General Hospital, warded for a blood disorder and ulcers.
One for daddy, with father Henny Yeo (below) sick in hospital, Nicholas Yeo fills out a betting slip for Greece to win Euro 2004 so that dad, like many Singaporeans yesterday, could still wager on the big game. -- LAURYN GOH ISHAK
He has been confined to a bed since Friday, not allowed to walk about his room and definitely not to the nearby Singapore Pools outlet to place bets on Euro 2004.
But this has not stopped the 57-year-old from placing a wager on Greece for tomorrow morning's Euro 2004 final against hosts and favourites Portugal.
Thanks to filial eldest son Nicholas, a 24-year-old national serviceman, he has wagered $50 on Greece.
'Have to lah, it's the final,' said Henny, a fire safety manager in a chemical company. 'Also, since I have to watch the game in hospital, having a betting slip in my hand will make it less depressing.'
But why Greece, when the hosts are expected to lift their first European crown?
'I've learnt my lesson - Greece are the ones who put me in hospital in the first place,' he said in jest, referring to the beatings he has received when Greece upset all the odds from the first whistle.
'Every time I bet against them, I lose. So this time, I'm rooting for them. And hopefully, I won't be disappointed again!'
A large number of Singaporeans seem to be agreeing with him, judging by the way the Singapore Pools odds for the match have fluctuated.
On Friday morning, it was $1.62 for a Portugal win, $3.25 for a draw and $4.90 for a Greece win.
While the dividends for the first two remained almost unchanged - fluctuating within a 20-cent range - the odds for a Greece upset fell by almost a dollar to $4 by yesterday's close.
Before the tournament started, Singapore Pools had offered $70 for every dollar staked on the Greeks winning. Pools declined to reveal how many people - and for how much - had taken up those odds.
Said 43-year-old taxi driver Tan, who placed $200 on Greece at a Bedok outlet yesterday: 'I doubt many people had betted on Greece going all the way, at least not when the odds were so attractive. If they did, I would have heard about it by now. We all know punters love to brag.'
A 21-year-old student at the Suntec City outlet has thrown the form guide into the dustbin.
'This tournament has seen so many upsets, it's so hard to predict logically,' he said.
After all, he has lost money placing faith on France against Greece, Spain against Greece and Germany versus Latvia.
'With all the favourites gone early, and so little known about the underdogs, how to bet? So I went for total-goals and draws. At least this has paid off since the quarter-finals.'
Many believe that the Greek fairy-tale run will end in tragedy.
Paul, a 42-year-old punter at Siglap, explained: 'Portugal will end the Greek dream. Portugal have flair in Ronaldo and Figo, plus thousands and thousands will be screaming for them at Porto.'
Not everyone bets on what his or her head dictates. Take Madam Tan, for example.
Her money is on 'Pot-two-gar' because of the two 'teekos' (lecherous in Hokkien).
'My friends all say the two 'teekos' very good lor,' said the 59-year-old coffeeshop assistant, probably referring to Figo and Deco.
'Okay lor, follow friends. Only $10. See how lor!'
One bettor who will not be collecting from Singapore Pools this week is Mervyn Koh. Last night, he tore his $1,100 dream.
He had betted $100 on the Czech Republic winning at 11-1 odds. They were beaten 0-1 in extra time by Greece in the semi-finals.
The things people do to get their bets in
Greece give Henny ulcers, now he wants the Greeks to pay
By Marc Lim
HENNY YEO is a patient at Changi General Hospital, warded for a blood disorder and ulcers.
One for daddy, with father Henny Yeo (below) sick in hospital, Nicholas Yeo fills out a betting slip for Greece to win Euro 2004 so that dad, like many Singaporeans yesterday, could still wager on the big game. -- LAURYN GOH ISHAK
He has been confined to a bed since Friday, not allowed to walk about his room and definitely not to the nearby Singapore Pools outlet to place bets on Euro 2004.
But this has not stopped the 57-year-old from placing a wager on Greece for tomorrow morning's Euro 2004 final against hosts and favourites Portugal.
Thanks to filial eldest son Nicholas, a 24-year-old national serviceman, he has wagered $50 on Greece.
'Have to lah, it's the final,' said Henny, a fire safety manager in a chemical company. 'Also, since I have to watch the game in hospital, having a betting slip in my hand will make it less depressing.'
But why Greece, when the hosts are expected to lift their first European crown?
'I've learnt my lesson - Greece are the ones who put me in hospital in the first place,' he said in jest, referring to the beatings he has received when Greece upset all the odds from the first whistle.
'Every time I bet against them, I lose. So this time, I'm rooting for them. And hopefully, I won't be disappointed again!'
A large number of Singaporeans seem to be agreeing with him, judging by the way the Singapore Pools odds for the match have fluctuated.
On Friday morning, it was $1.62 for a Portugal win, $3.25 for a draw and $4.90 for a Greece win.
While the dividends for the first two remained almost unchanged - fluctuating within a 20-cent range - the odds for a Greece upset fell by almost a dollar to $4 by yesterday's close.
Before the tournament started, Singapore Pools had offered $70 for every dollar staked on the Greeks winning. Pools declined to reveal how many people - and for how much - had taken up those odds.
Said 43-year-old taxi driver Tan, who placed $200 on Greece at a Bedok outlet yesterday: 'I doubt many people had betted on Greece going all the way, at least not when the odds were so attractive. If they did, I would have heard about it by now. We all know punters love to brag.'
A 21-year-old student at the Suntec City outlet has thrown the form guide into the dustbin.
'This tournament has seen so many upsets, it's so hard to predict logically,' he said.
After all, he has lost money placing faith on France against Greece, Spain against Greece and Germany versus Latvia.
'With all the favourites gone early, and so little known about the underdogs, how to bet? So I went for total-goals and draws. At least this has paid off since the quarter-finals.'
Many believe that the Greek fairy-tale run will end in tragedy.
Paul, a 42-year-old punter at Siglap, explained: 'Portugal will end the Greek dream. Portugal have flair in Ronaldo and Figo, plus thousands and thousands will be screaming for them at Porto.'
Not everyone bets on what his or her head dictates. Take Madam Tan, for example.
Her money is on 'Pot-two-gar' because of the two 'teekos' (lecherous in Hokkien).
'My friends all say the two 'teekos' very good lor,' said the 59-year-old coffeeshop assistant, probably referring to Figo and Deco.
'Okay lor, follow friends. Only $10. See how lor!'
One bettor who will not be collecting from Singapore Pools this week is Mervyn Koh. Last night, he tore his $1,100 dream.
He had betted $100 on the Czech Republic winning at 11-1 odds. They were beaten 0-1 in extra time by Greece in the semi-finals.
