The Daily Show with Jon Stewart: Betting on Hurricanes

The "Daily Show with Jon Stewart" featured a hilarious segment on Hurricane preparedness which includes an interview with the folks from BetCRIS.com.

Check out the clip here

Since weather forecasts are based on probability, it's an easy leap to oddsmaking. A team of mathematicians from Costa-Rica-based BetCRIS.com released their 2006 numbers about two months before the National Weather Service issued their forecast.

``If you compare their numbers with ours, they're dead on,'' BetCRIS.com CEO Mickey Richardson said. After two years of offering hurricane odds during fairly mild seasons, Richardson said he did question whether to continue after Katrina.

``But our clients who were used to seeing us offer these events pretty much requested it again,'' Richardson said. ``We tailored it in a way where we to tried to make it in good taste. We stayed as far away as we could from hurricane alley in the gulf in Louisiana and Mississippi. The last thing I want to do is profit off of a disaster that happened last year.''

The average hurricane gambler isn't looking to make thousands. It's mostly recreational, with bets averaging $100, Richardson said.

But a spokesman from the National Weather Service in Miami said the agency releases its forecasts so people can prepare, not so they can turn a profit gambling.

``I think it's pretty sad that people are betting on an issue that involves peoples' lives and property,'' spokesman Greg Romano said. ``Hurricanes are dangerous and for people to bet on them is really, really sad.''

See our extensive Hurricane Betting Blog here

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Gambling911.com News Wire

Originally published July 21, 2006 8:33 pm EDT