Punters couldn't have had it better. Will an India-US nuclear deal get a go ahead in the next two days? You could bet your life on it.
Bets are being taken on a host of issues related to the Indo-US summit this week. Unlike regular cricket betting where a client could be anyone from a neighbourhood pan shop-owner to a property dealer, bets are being placed by members of what is commonly known as the "backdoor lobby group".
Sources said that usually bets on many such matters are placed routinely, but with a leading newspaper publishing an interview with George Bush, almost anyone with a Gymkhana or an IIC membership wanted to know if their calculated guess would stand the test of time.
Till Wednesday afternoon, selected bookies were taking bets.
"The odds were 35:135 against the deal as of now. But they may change after Bush lands. However, everything will be locked by tonight (Wednesday night) and no more bets will be taken," said a source.
The Delhi Police has seen similar action in the punter world when Bush was fighting for his second stint at White House.
"Punters need a reason to bet. Bush's visit has come at the right time with the India-England cricket series not generating much enthusiasm among punters. While Bush is the favourite among punters, bets are also being placed on the board exams (whether some paper would be leaked, will the Mathematics paper be a tough one to crack) and the Jessica Lall case (will the police go for a complete reinvestigation, whether guilty cops would be brought to book)," a bookie said.
Bets on the Bush visit range from the absurd to the obvious. "Punters bet on anything. The only condition being that there should be another side of the same thing. Will a breakthrough on the nuclear treaty be announced; what will be US president's favourite dish and would there be any security breach," the bookie said.
{{/usCountry}}Bets on the Bush visit range from the absurd to the obvious. "Punters bet on anything. The only condition being that there should be another side of the same thing. Will a breakthrough on the nuclear treaty be announced; what will be US president's favourite dish and would there be any security breach," the bookie said.
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