Carom
OEGSTGEEST - Can you imagine? The Dutch Masters in Kaatsheuvel, the European championship or even the World Cup in Luxor: shortly before the start of the tournament, two young ladies walk around the billiards room in t-shirts (,,Bet you like it..'') to ask people if they want to take a chance.
,,Who is going to win the tournament?''
You pay five or ten dollars to bet, maybe online, via a banner on Kozoom, that broadcasts the games. The winner (who predicted the winner) receives 75 percent of the total amount, the rest will be distributed between Cue Bets, Kozoom, the organization of the tournament, the players and the organizing federations.
The future of billiards? Why not...
Bob van Ingen Schenau from Oegstgeest (Netherlands) is very enthusiastic. ,,We all know that billiards doesn't attract full houses. What can we do to give it a boost and make it better? I've been thinking and I took horse racing and darts as best examples. Look at a horse race, where spectators can bet on the winning horse. They will stay and watch the race until the end to see who's the winner and the tension is on until the end.''
,,Darts is another example. I really don't think people are fascinated watching people throwing darts for hours. That means, they're coming for the ambiance, the atmosphere, the lovely ladies and have a drink.''
Dutchman Bob van Ingen Schenau (from Cue Bets.com) is convinced the billiard sport needs such a boost. He organized a trial last year, done by BCO in Oegstgeest, in a small tournament in which spectators could bet on the winner. ,,We took 450 euros, 75 percent went to the person who predicted the winner, we spent the other money for a snack and a drink.''
The annual 'BCO Open tournament' in the billiards center Oegstgeest will be played this year on 22 and 29 March and 6 April (finals) and is planned as a new try-out. The organizer expects up to eighty participants, the main prize is three hundred euros, the losing finalist will receive 150 euros.
Bob van Ingen Schenau, a pretty good player himself, is a hospitality entrepreneur and developer of catering concepts. For years he was the chairman of the 'Biljartcentrum Oegstgeest', where eight clubs have their home.
,,Three years ago I started this project with one of my a business friends, who's interested in billiards as well. We both think it's time to turn the tide. Billiards is a great sport to play and to watch, but more and more tournaments attract a too small audience.''
The initiator organized his tournament last year and then contacted the KNBB (Dutch federation). ,,We asked them to support the initiative and think positively.''
The idea was also launched at Kozoom, to cooperate and to advertise with a banner on Kozoom. ,,Gerard ten Lohuis from Kozoom was excited about our plans, that's already one step forward.''
For now, the initiative is just a start, but the organizers are thinking about an international website to gamble on big tournaments, like the World Cups, World championships and other major tournaments in three cushion.
Bob van Ingen Schenau is ready to launch his plans. He knows that the gaming policy will be liberalized on the 1th of January 2015. I can predict that the Dutch market will be flooded with betting and gaming. The 'Lotto' will lose its monopoly position.''
,,We can have the scoop in the billiard sport, but we must hope that the KNBB (Dutch federation), other federations and the UMB (world federation) will support the ideas. This idea has nothing to do with the bookmakers system, match fixing is impossible. We're going to make it very transparent.''