If you like to wager, there are some big TV events on the way in spring 2019 that might be of interest. For sports fans, there is always plenty of action but some events on the calendar are particularly special and we’ll look at a couple of those. In addition, we’ll throw the spotlight on a major novelty betting option that might also appeal.
The Master’s Tournament
The US Masters golf tournament is one of the biggest sporting events on the planet. In the USA alone, more than 13 million people tune in to watch the final round each year. Tickets for the event are notoriously hard to come by as they are only distributed to a closed list of registered patrons. Some tickets are sold on to the secondary market but can be very expensive.
With big-name players such as Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, and Jordan Spieth involved, the Masters always attracts a lot of betting action. Popular bets include winner, top 20 finish, top European, round leader, and top amateur. At a price of 7/1, Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy is the early favorite for the 2019 event closely followed by Dustin Johnson, Justin Rose, and four-time former champion Tiger Woods, who will hope to recreate some of the magic of 2005 when he produced one of the greatest golf shots of all time at the 16th hole.
Bettors should look out for the free bets and promotions that often appear ahead of major events. Ongoing promotions for new customers can also be used to bet on events such as the Masters. Bookmakers may also offer the best odds guaranteed, extra places, and other special promotions on big sporting events.
For those who want to stream the tv event live, The Masters is available to watch on CBS and ESPN, which are both available to stream on popular services such as Hulu. And if you want to watch from abroad, just check out the best VPN for Hulu to ensure you don’t miss a minute of the action. The 2019 Masters promises to be one of the best in years.
The Grand National
Over in the UK in April, all eyes will be on the Grand National. This classic horse race was first staged in 1839 and is the showpiece of the three-day Aintree festival held in Liverpool each year. The big race takes place on April 6, 2019, and will be watched by millions of people around the globe.
It is a notoriously difficult steeplechase run over a distance of 4 miles 514 yards. The participants must jump 30 fences including the infamous Becher’s Brook and the Chair. With a prize fund in excess of £1m, it is the most valuable jump race in Europe.
The Grand National is notable for attracting a surge of betting activity as many people who do not normally bet make an exception for this event. The race captures the attention of the whole nation and it is common for UK workplaces to hold group sweepstakes.
The most famous winner of the race was Red Rum, who achieved an unmatched treble, winning in 1973, 1974, and 1977. He also came second in 1975 and 1976 and became a sports personality in his own right.
The Eurovision Song Contest
Long before the X-Factor and American Idol hit our TV screens, the Europeans were staging an international singing competition on the grandest scale. Originally staged in Lugano, Switzerland on 24 May 1956, the Eurovision Song Contest is now held annually in the country of the previous winner. The original aim of the show was to bring European countries together in the aftermath of World War II. And, despite the technological obstacles that existed at the time, the first edition was broadcast live across the continent.
The contest is like no other talent show on earth. It is big, bold, and musically diverse with heavy metal acts featuring alongside Euro-pop and folk artists. As well as performing original songs, the show’s artists also use visual techniques to attract votes. This means elaborate lighting, pyrotechnics, outrageous costumes, and even theatrical performances.
The competition has sparked controversy thanks to its voting system which requires a judging panel from each country to vote for their favorite songs. Countries that are linked geographically or politically often vote for each other, resulting in accusations of bias. To limit the effect of voting bias, the system was changed in 2009 to include TV audience voting.
While most winning artists only enjoy short-term commercial success, Eurovision did launch the careers of global superstars ABBA (1974 winners) and Celine Dion (1988 winner). UK artists Bucks Fizz also enjoyed a successful international career after winning in 1981.
Eurovision is one of the most-watched non-sporting tv events in the world with as many as 600 million viewers tuning in each year. It has even been shown in countries that do not take part including the United States and China. In recent years, the number of Eurovision parties held in the UK has grown massively and the show has also become extremely popular amongst bettors.
The early favorites for the 2019 edition are the Netherlands who will be represented by Duncan Laurence performing Arcade. They are currently priced at 11/4 ahead of the Russian entry Scream performed by Sergey Lazarev.
