Prince William has been linked with one Miss Kate Middleton for some months now. The two were students at St. Andrews and house mates at the same Scottish University. The relationship has obviously moved past that of school chums, as they have been sited at several romantic dinners at swanky London restaurants. In fact, early this week the couple was seen leaving a London nightclub with no less than 10 police officers forming a security cordon. All of this has been a catalyst to rumors of an engagement announcement.
William Hill, the UK high street and online bookmaker offers a range of "celebrity props", and they report that interest in a possible royal wedding and more specifically when it will take place is intense.
"One punter wanted to place a 1,000 pound bet (US$1,930)that the couple will marry on July 19” a William Hill spokesman told Reuters this week. The spokesperson went on to say that , "we're no longer accepting wagers on that day." In fact, betting on the date of a royal wedding is so high that William Hill stands to lose more than US$95,000 if the couple marry in 2007. If the date is set at July 19 William Hill will have to pay out to the tune of US$40,000.
“Closing the book” or stopping additional bets being placed on a particular date or outcome of an event is common bookmaking practice, and allows the bookie to limit his liability.
