Online Gamblers Go Mad for College Hoops

Saint Louis – March 30, 2005 – Record breaking performances, double overtimes and upsets have made the 2005 Final Four tournament one of the most exciting in recent memory. But for the millions of people who gamble on March Madness every year, online gambling has pushed the excitement level to a new high.

Sportsbook.com attributes the growing popularity in online gambling to the endless betting options that exist, beyond just predicting who will win the game.

Our team works very hard to deliver the most unique and interesting betting props for our players, said Alex Czajkowski, Marketing Director, Sportsbook.com. When players bet online, the options are limitless and immediate, whether you’re wagering on an individual player’s performance or betting on live games as they happen it really raises the stakes and makes the games more exciting.

This weekend’s Final Four offers many intriguing storylines and options for bettors. Will two Big Ten Conference Teams – Illinois and Michigan State – meet in the final for the first time since 1976? Will Rick Pitino, coach of Louisville, lead his second school to the championship after winning the 1996 title with Kentucky? Will North Carolina coach Roy Williams finally win his first championship after leading Kansas to four Final Fours?

Heading into the Final Four, Sportsbook.com has North Carolina as the favorite to win the title, with a showdown against Illinois the most likely scenario:

Odds to win the championship
North Carolina – 3-2 (-230)
Illinois – 2-1 (-155)
Louisville – 7-2 (+135)
Michigan State – 6-1 (+190)

Odds on who will meet in the final
North Carolina vs. Illinois – $100 bet pays $136.04
North Carolina vs. Louisville – $100 bet pays $237.17
Michigan State vs. Illinois – $100 bet pays $377.09
Michigan State vs. Louisville – $100 bet pays $581.50

A full list of odds and props can be found at www.sportsbook.com.
About Sportsbook.com
Sportsbook.com is the largest sportsbook and casino on the planet, offering numerous products including sports betting, horse racing, poker, casino and virtual games. It is the flagship brand for Sportingbet PLC, (LSE: SBT), the world’s largest publicly traded online betting, gambling and gaming company.