Why Las Vegas Needs the Chicago Cubs to Lose Tonight

[marmar]

The failure of the Chicago Cubs to win a World Series in more than 100 years of trying has nonetheless endeared them to fans — and to Las Vegas’ sports books.

Each year the Cubs are among the baseball’s most-bet teams. Long-shot World Series odds -- as wide as 60-1 at some books this season -- don’t deter bettors from offering money that the 106-year drought, fueled by the Curse of the Billy Goat, will finally end.

In each of the past six seasons, sports books have pocketed that money before the playoffs began. As the Cubs prepare to face division-rival Pittsburgh Pirates tonight in the one-game Wild Card round, oddsmakers are getting nervous.

"We have liability on the Cubs every single year," said Jay Kornegay, head oddsmaker at the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook, where bettors could take 40-to-1 odds on the Cubs to win the World Series before the baseball season began. "This year is no different -- it’s just that the Cubs are actually in the playoffs." ....................(more)

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-10-07/why-las-vegas-needs-the-chicago-cubs-to-lose-tonight

[GoCubsGo]

1. Well, they're out of luck tonight.