Novelty betting, or the act of betting on the outcome or likelihood of a future, non-sports-related event, is becoming increasingly popular in the world of online gambling. Not everyone is interested in sports or has the knowledge to make educated bets. For people who are more interested in the outcome of politics, award shows, or reality TV there are sites like InTrade.com.

Intrade is an online trading exchange website that allows users to bet on just about anything. Think you know where the first hurricane of the 2010 season will make landfall?  How much money a particular movie will gross? When Osama Bin Land will be caught or whether or not California will legalize marijuana? Put some money on it! With 14 categories ranging from Current Events to Business to Climate and Weather, everyone can find something to gamble on. If you don’t want to risk money, sister site InTrade.net allows users to play just for fun as well as create their own betting markets.

If InTrade doesn't do it for you, head over the other novelty betting sites we've profiled: Stiffs.com or Longbets.org. It's just money, right?

Tags: weird bets, strange bets, novelty bets, intrade.com, gambling, online gambling, betting, bets
Categories: Gambling

Where do you think the biggest casino in the world is located? Las Vegas? Atlantic City? Somewhere in the Caribbean? These are all good guesses, but the answer is Macao, China. In fact, Macao is home to five of the world’s 10 largest casinos, including the record-holding Venetian Macao.

The Venetian Macao opened in 2007 and encompasses a mind-boggling 546,000 square feet of casino space, or 10,500,000 square feet if you count the entire resort. It is large enough to hold ninety 747 Boeing jets or 3,000 gaming machines, 870 table and poker games, 24 restaurants and bars, and 3,000 hotel rooms. There is also a 15,000 seat arena for special events. Many well-known musical groups have performed at the Venetian Macao, including The Police, Beyonce, The Black Eyed Peas, and more.

Interested in a stay at the world’s biggest casino? A one-night stay in July will cost you anywhere between $218 - $327. Visit The Venetian Macao to learn more.

Here are a few pics of the world’s largest casino.

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Tags: the venetian macao, casino, world's largest casino, world's biggest casino, macao
Categories: Gambling

On May 16, 51 lovely ladies will compete for the title of Miss USA 2010. Why not visit Bodog.com and bet on which contestant will take home the crown? Miss California is favored with odds of 8/1, though Kansas, Idaho, Lousiana, Nebraska, and Oklahoma aren't far behind. Click to evaluate the Miss USA contestants for yourself.

Last year's competition gained notoriety after contestant Carrie Prejean voiced her opinion about gay marriage. Who knows what this year's pageant will bring. 

Here are pictures of the favored contestants.

Miss California: Nicole Michele Johnson (8/1)

Miss Kansas: Bethany Gerber (11/1)

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Tags: gambling, sports betting, betting, miss usa, miss usa 2010, bet on miss usa
Categories: Gambling

Australian senator Nick Xenophon is known for his anti-gambling views, so it should come as no surprise that the lawmaker takes offense to gambling apps offered for the iPhone.

Xenophon says he recently became aware of apps that allow users to play simulated slot machines and that such apps, recommended for users age 12 and up, are a danger to children. Why? In Xenophon's opinion, gambling applications teach children that gambling is a legitmate way to earn money and set kids up for future financial ruin.

"The use of money, albeit fantasy, drills home a false impression that poker machines can be a source of money or income," Senator Xenophon said. "...This is a training application for kids to lose real money when they turn 18."

Many of the apps in question are associated with major casinos and can be downloaded for free. Critics argue the apps are harmless as there is no real money involved.

What do you think? Are the gambling apps harmless fun or do they encourage future gambling problems?

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald

Tags: gambling, iphone apps, gambling apps, gambling iphone apps, nick xenophon gambling, nick xenophon, australia gambling
Categories: Gambling | iPhone Apps

A group of Iowa lawmakers are proposing to legalize in-state Internet poker, a move that would make Iowa the first state in the nation to do so.

Proponents argue that some 50,000 Iowans already play illegally and that state-regulated gambling would be safer for residents and bring approximately $11.5 million in extra revenue a year.

“We would take something that Iowans are currently being abused on by out-of-country, unregulated entities and allow the state to put constraints on it," said Rep. Doug Struyk, who is part of a legislative group working on the issue.

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Tags: online gambling, internet poker, legalize online gambling, iowa, gambling
Categories: Gambling

The 82nd Annual Academy Awards are on March 7th and Vegas is taking bets on who the big winners will be. 

The favorites for Best Picture are Avatar and The Hurt Locker. Although Avatar did not receive a screenplay nomination, Vegas still expects the film to win Best Picture. Traditionally, films lacking screenplay nominations do not win in this category. The Hurt Locker, on the other hand, did receive a nomination for best screenplay. Not only that, but Avatar director James Cameron is going against The Hurt Locker director (and ex-wife) Kathryn Bigelow for Best Director so that should make things interesting.

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Tags: gambling, oscar gambling, academy awards gambling, betting on the academy awards, betting on the oscars, oscars betting, academy awards betting, avatar, the hurt locker
Categories: Gambling

With the unexpected departure of Spiderman star Tobey Maguire and director Sam Raimi, the future of Spiderman 4 is uncertain at best. Despite the upheaval, Columbia Pictures recently announced that it has no plans to abandon the film and will in fact release a rebooted version in 2012.

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Tags: spiderman 4, spiderman, spiderman 4 movie
Categories: Gambling

A New Year brings new beginnings, but with it also comes celebrity death wagers. 2009 brought a rash of celebrity deaths. Some were surprising (Michael Jackson, Brittany Murphy, Billy Mays). Some were not (Patrick Swayze, Farrah Fawcett, Ted Kennedy). Today, the Internet is buzzing with the unexpected death of Johnson and Johnson heiress Casey Johnson. Think you know who will kick the bucket next? Then step right up to www.stiffs.com!

Stiffs.com offers a twelve-month game (sorry, it’s already closed) and a sixth-month game (deadline February 1st, 2010). To play, users must list (in order of certainty) 11 celebrities they believe will die in the selected time frame and then pay the appropriate entry fee ($15.00 for twelve-month wagers, $7.50 for six-month wagers). Whoever predicts the most deaths wins. It’s as simple as that. The top prize is $3,000, while lowlier prizes include t-shirts, coffee mugs, and free entries in next year’s pool. Wanna get in on the action? Then place your bets before it’s too late!

Note: murdering a celebrity on your list will get you disqualified.

Tags: gambling, 2010 celebrity deaths, celebrity death list, celebrity death predictions, gambing sites, predict celebrity deaths
Categories: Gambling

People bet on many things: the outcome of the latest football game, which horse will win the Kentucky derby, who can funnel the most beers. However, did you know you can also bet when the large hadron collider will destroy the Earth or whether or not a casino will be on the moon by the year 2040? At Longbets.org you can.

Longbets.org allows participants to make a prediction or challenge someone else’s. However, the forecasts or bets must focus on topics that are important to science/society. Predictors and bettors must also include an argument explaining why the topic is important and why they feel they are right (an intellectual betting site, if you will). Bets cannot be revoked once made and all winnings will be donated to the charity of the winner’s choice.

Though many of the bettors will never live to see the outcome of their unlikely wagers (by 2150, schools will teach students how to fight against robot attacks), there have been a few lucky winners. One man predicted the existence of Netflix in 2002, while another argued that that US men’s soccer team would win the World Cup before the Red Sox won the World Series.

Ready to make a bet?

Tags: long bets, longbets.org, gambling, bets, betting
Categories: Gambling

Poor Wendy Knox and Richard Dotson.

 

The Idaho couple filed a lawsuit in 2008 claiming the gaming machines at a tribal casino caused them to gamble compulsively. As a result, the dim-witted duo lost their jobs, their home, and tens of thousands of dollars. The pair tried to claim that the machines violated a state prohibition on gambling and should be removed, but Idaho voters approved tribal gambling in 2001. Not surpisingly, Idaho courts ruled that the lawsuit had no merit. The couple pushed the ridiculous lawsuit it all the way to the Idaho Supreme Court, but no dice (pun fully intended).

 

What on earth were these two thinking? If they can't gamble, no one can? That they had no control over their own actions? That the state owes them something because they stupidly gambled all their money away? The nerve of some people, I tell you what!

 

Source: The Associated Press

Tags: gaming suit, idaho gaming suit, wendy knox, richard dotson, stupid lawsuits, ridiculous lawsuits, gambling
Categories: Gambling