Right regal fuss as world wagers on royal baby_美文

Right regal fuss as world wagers on royal baby

"We are seeing a tug of war, with a quite modern couple like William and Kate on one hand, but they have a royal family to appease, 1,000 years of tradition and they don't want to upset the queen," said Rory Scott, a spokesman for Paddy Power.

Girls' names dominate the odds because punters seem convinced the royal baby will be a girl, after Kate reportedly nearly let it slip during a public appearance earlier this year.

Odds are normally equal for both genders but in this case the odds are nearly twice as long on a male for most bookies.

The most volatile topic is the date of the birth, with several betting companies slashing the odds on the first week of July instead of the expected date of around July 13.

The favorite for hair color is brown, followed by blonde or black, with ginger hair like the new arrival's uncle Prince Harry generally the least favored.

Scott said Paddy Power had taken 10,000 bets and expected takings to be a "good 30 percent up" on the wedding, with turnover of $450,000.

About the broadcaster:

Nelly Min is an editor at China Daily with more than 10 years of experience as a newspaper editor and photographer. She has worked at major newspapers in the U.S., including the Los Angeles Times and the Detroit Free Press. She is also fluent in Korean.