First Post -- Sportsbook flat out got this bet wrong

RHoof · #1 11-09-2006, 02:51 PM

The Senate is currently 49 Dems 49 Rep. 2 Inds (that will vote with the Dems, but 1 is actually a Socialist and Lieberman actually beat the Dem. candidate) so how do I lose this bet?

Straight Wager 11/05/06 12:53 ET
18.00/6.43 Result: Wager Lost
Who Will win a Senate majority in the 2006 Midterm Elections
Democrats 1
Republicans 0 11/07/06 (12:00 ET)
Republicans -280

Its a push, right?

PS: This is why I thought this was such a sucker bet on their part.

playersare · #2 11-09-2006, 02:52 PM

you're not gonna get that loss overturned.

RHoof · #3 11-09-2006, 02:54 PM

why?

silentbob · #4 11-09-2006, 04:15 PM

Winning a Senate majority has nothing to do with how many seats are held by actual Democrats.

RHoof · #5 11-09-2006, 06:14 PM

Huh? Maybe I'm an idiot but neither party has a majority. Now the Dems will be in power b/c the two independents will generally caucaus with the Dems, although there is a slim chance Lieberman may join the Republicans if the Dems [censored] with him too much on chairmanships/committees. The question was not who will control the senate.

bball233 · #6 11-09-2006, 06:23 PM

49 Rep/49 Dem

You bet Republicans would have majority. They do not. You lose. Bet COULD have said "no majority results in push" but I assume it didn't and you're not getting this reversed.

MyTurn2Raise · #7 11-09-2006, 06:34 PM

yep...the way I read the question is that there is no majority

both Dems and Reps lose

Homer · #8 11-09-2006, 06:37 PM

So wait, both sides were graded as losses?

silentbob · #9 11-09-2006, 06:41 PM

I disagree. Obviously, I'm not Sportsbook and therefore can't say for sure how the bet would have been graded had the OP bet on the Democrats, but my understanding of "majority" here is that it refers to the party that ends up with majority power, not which party has a mathematical majority (if any).

Even if neither party has a mathematical majority, there will still be a Senate Majority Leader, Minority Leader, and so forth. IMO, the bet is addressing this issue.

I think we can agree in any event that the bet is poorly worded, in which case it was the OP's responsibility to seek clarification.

ImBen · #10 11-09-2006, 06:43 PM

[ QUOTE ]
yep...the way I read the question is that there is no majority

both Dems and Reps lose

[/ QUOTE ]

Wrong.