JANUARY is a huge month for betting, but the punters’ focus will shift away from sport and towards some of the country’s biggest annual novelty markets this Australia Day.
The Triple J Hottest 100 has become an institution of Aussie culture, with listeners tuning in from barbecues and get-togethers all over the country to find out which song will be crowned the number one hit of the year gone.
The count has garnered a big following on the alternative betting scene in recent times, with multiple outright and futures markets supported by leading online bookmakers such as CrownBet, Sportsbet and William Hill.
Those trusted betting sites are also taking wagers on who will be named Australian of the Year – the nation’s highest individual honour, which is awarded every year on January 26.
Who will come up trumps in this 2016 Australia Day betting bonanza? Let’s see what the bookies think.
‘King Kunta’ rules Hottest 100 betting
‘King Kunta’ is the clear favourite to take out top spot in this year’s Triple J Hottest 100, according to Sportsbet.com.au.
The Kendrick Lamar track, which was paying as much $14 in the early betting, is now the $2.25 frontrunner in the outright markets for the annual listener-voted music countdown.
‘Kunta’ has eclipsed former favourite ‘Lean On’ ($2.80), although the Major Lazer hit has shortened again this week after drifting out as far as $3.50.
“We’ve still taken more money on ‘Lean On’ overall, but the overwhelming amount has been on ‘King Kunta’ in the New Year,” said Sportsbet’s Christian Jantzen.
The Rubens complete the top three candidates with ‘Hoops’ ($9), ahead of the Grammy-nominated ‘Can’t Feel My Face’ by Canadian solo star The Weeknd.
Meanwhile, CrownBet.com is taking bets on a number of alternative Hottest 100 futures markets.
The Rubens ($1.85) are very well liked to claim the highest-charting Australian artist gong, ahead of Tame Impala ($2.25), Jarryd James ($5) and Chet Faker ($6).
Tuka’s version of ‘Big Jet Plane’ is almost a shoo-in to be the top-ranked Like A Version cover at $1.30, with ‘So Into You’ by Childish Gambino ($4.50) and ‘Two Weeks’ by #1 Dads ($8) the closest rivals.
Market courtesy of sportsbet.com.au
Hottest 100 2015 – Outright Winner
$2.25 King Kunta – Kendrick Lamar
$2.80 Lean On – Major Lazer and DJ Snake feat. MO
$9.00 Hoops – The Rubens
$11 Can’t Feel My Face – The Weeknd
$13 Let It Happen – Tame Impala
$16 The Less I know the Better – Tame Impala
$17 The Trouble With Us – Marcus Carr and Chet Faker
$18 Hotline Bling – Drake
$19 The Hills – The Weeknd
$21 Do You Remember – Jarryd James
$21 Downtown – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
$26 Like Soda – Violent Soho
Others quoted
Elizabeth Broderick the hot tip for 2016 Australian of the Year
Online bookmakers have slated New South Wales nominee Elizabeth Broderick as the top pick to receive the 2016 Australian of the Year award.
Ms. Broderick, who brought gender equality issues to the fore during her eight-year term as the Australian Sex Discrimination Commissioner, leads the pack at $2.90 in the outright betting at Sportsbet.com.au.
Next in line is Dr. John Greenwood ($3.50), who earned the South Australian nomination on the back of his outstanding work as medical director of the Adult Burns Centre at Royal Adelaide Hospital.
Transgender advocate and former military officer Catherine McGregor rounds out the chief contenders at $4, ahead ACT candidate David Morrison and Tasmanian conservationist Jane Hutchinson (both $7.50).
“We opened Elizabeth Broderick as the favourite and punters seem to agree with more than half the money invested on the market placed on her,” said Jantzen.
Melbourne barrister Julian McMahon – best known for defending members of the Bali Nine – is an outside chance at $11, while West Australian nurse Anne Carey and BushMob founder Will MacGregor (both $16) round out the field.
Market courtesy of sportsbet.com.au
Australian of the Year – Outright Betting
$2.90 Elizabeth Broderick (NSW)
$3.50 John Greenwood (SA)
$4.00 Catherine McGregor (QLD)
$7.50 David Morrison (ACT)
$7.50 Jane Hutchinson (TAS)
$11 Julian McMahon (VIC)
$16 Anne Carey (WA)
$16 Will MacGregor (NT)
