Burmese gamblers turn to stars to bet on World Cup

Despite a government ban, widespread betting on the Germany 2006 football tournament is anticipated. Astrologers base their result predictions on the colour of the team's kit and the time of the game.  

Yangon (AsiaNews/IOE) – Astrologers are set to enter the fray in the World Cup football games, in Myanmar anyhow. As the games in Germany draw nearer, Burmese fans are gearing up to bet on games, getting around a government ban on gambling. And they are intent on asking for illumination from the stars.

According to the national media, Myawaddy state television will screen the main games of the championship, and privately owned cinemas will cover the entire event.

Local sources said many plan to bet on the games. A sports fan from Yangon said: "Even ordinary fans gamble just for fun. So Germany 2006 is a big event for regular gamblers."

According to a Burmese sports journalist, "most gamblers generally place their bet based on sports commentators' forecasts appearing in several publications." But even traditional beliefs in astrology play a key role in this kind of betting in Myanmar. The journalist continued: "Dealers and gamblers sometimes seek predictions from astrologers. Astrologers predict the possible outcome based on the colour of the team, time they play, which side of the ground they take and so on…"

In some areas of the country, like Pyinmana, near Burma's new administrative capital Naypyidaw, government officials have taken measures in some areas to try to curb World Cup gambling. "Those who want to gamble have to place their bets in Rangoon," a Pyinmana resident said.

World Cup gambling is common in neighbouring Thailand too, where a survey by Assumption University estimated that 3.7 million people are planning to bet on matches. The survey revealed that gambling on the event will reach a volume of more than 366 million dollars.

• MYANMAR
• economy
• bets
• world
• cup
• football
• Germany
• 2006
• astrology
• society