Place Your Bets with Ludo Bagman – Harry Potter Lexicon

"Japan must now be tournament favourites, dispatching opponents with a combination of ruthless efficiency and exquisite artistry."
-- Ludo Bagman, Daily Prophet, 2 July 2014 (QWC)

Place Your Bets with Ludo Bagman is an article that appeared in the Sports section of the Daily Prophet on 2 July 2014.

Background

A former England and Wimbourne Wasps Beater, inveterate gambler and bookie Bagman analyses the prospects of the four remaining teams in the Semi-finals of the 2014 Quidditch World Cup (QWC).

Analysis

Brazil National Team – At 9:1, Bagman rated the Brazilians very highly but felt that their youth and inexperience at this level would ultimately keep them back.

Bulgaria National Team – Given a 50:1 rating, Bagman felt that Seeker Viktor Krum was too old to beat the other Seekers to the Snitch.

Japan National Team – The favourite at 4:1 odds, Bagman liked the individual flair and skill of the Japanese players which, combined with their outstanding overall team performance, would give them the advantage over the other Semi-finalists.

United States National Team – Putting the odds at 12:1, Bagman praised their past results, but felt that the defence of the US team was weaker than that of the other three teams (QWC).

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Notes

Although he was probably being paid by the Daily Prophet for writing this article, Bagman was likely to be hoping to make even more money from taking bets on these matches as well. However, given his past form at the 1994 Quidditch World Cup (GF8), he may have had to go on the run from creditors again (GF37), especially if the high odds on Viktor Krum and the Bulgarians did not put wizards off betting out of sentiment for the underdogs' fighting spirit.

Even Bagman's review of Quidditch Through the Ages shows how enthusiastic he is about taking bets on everything and anything: