Amount Bet on Game At Least $100 Million!

Amount Bet on Game At Least $100 Million!

Las Vegas, Nevada (November 18, 2008) – Numbers released by RJ Bell of Pregame.com in connection with betting action on the Steelers/Chargers were widely reported in the media. In response, some questioned the large size of the gambling numbers. Two legal sportsbook professionals have now spoken out.

RJ Bell of Pregame.com estimated $100 million was wagered worldwide on the Pittsburgh/San Diego game.

John Avello, director of the race and sports book at the Wynn resort, speculated to Newsday that the worldwide betting total on the game ranged from $100 million to possibly as high as $500 million!

RJ Bell of Pregame.com estimated that 66% of the money wagered backed the Steelers, with 34% backing the Chargers.

Bob Scucci, race and sports book manager for Boyd Gaming, told ESPN that 80% of the public bet the Steelers through his property, with only 20% backing the Chargers.

Since sports betting is not fully regulated, worldwide numbers cannot be exact. RJ Bell of Pregame.com said: “When estimating numbers, I go to great lengths to gather all available information. If my numbers must miss, it’s better for them to miss conservatively.”

Why would critics attempt to debunk numbers that respected professionals consider conservative? Many are in denial about the sheer size of gambling numbers. Others have an agenda to diminish the impact of any possible gambling scandal.

MEDIA NOTE: Print, radio, TV, and Internet media should feel free to quote any information above. Please attribute: RJ Bell of Pregame.com. For follow-up questions, or media appearances – email: rjbell@pregame.com

About RJ Bell of Pregame.com
RJ Bell, president of http://Pregame.com, has been featured on CBS News with Katie Couric, ABC News with Charles Gibson, Nightline, Sportscenter, Outside the Lines (ESPN), First Take (ESPN2), ESPN.com, ESPN National Radio, Yahoo, AOL.com, CNN.com and in Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Associated Press, Sports Illustrated, LA Times, Newsweek.com, Bloomberg, Maxim, and Forbes.

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Contact Information

RJ Bell

President

Pregame.com

Contact via E-mail