Chapter 16 Gambling on the Champions League

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Heathrow Airport, a world-famous civil airport, the main airport of London, the capital of the United Kingdom, and the world's main aviation hub, is the busiest airport in Europe, one of the busiest airports in the world, and one of the largest airports in the world. On May 7, 2000, Guo Shouyun set foot on the land of the British Empire for the first time in two lifetimes combined.

Because he had already booked a luxury suite at the five-star Waldorf Astoria by Hilton, and because of the language sharing, Guo Shouyun did not feel any inconvenience from the United States to the United Kingdom.

After opening the laptop that I carried with me and logging in to Yahoo, in the sports section, news about the Champions League in ten days took up nearly half of the page.

However, no one expects Valencia to beat the mighty Real Madrid to lift the 'Big Ears Cup'. Also, compared to Real Madrid, which has superstars such as Raul, Redondo, McManaman, Carlos, and Casillas, although Valencia is also a strong team in La Liga, it is inferior to Real Madrid in terms of lineup and championships. Moreover, in the Champions League semifinals that ended before, they had just fought with the powerful Barcelona, and their physical strength was worrying!

So, on betting sites, Valencia beats Real Madrid at odds of 2 to 1, while Real Madrid beats Valencia at odds of 0.5 to 1!

Football is round, and anything can happen on the football field. As a result, Valencia is not much favored, though. However, the difference in odds between the two teams is not too wide.

However, soccer betting is not just about winning or losing, it's about scoring more exciting goals! A 0-0 draw is 2 to 1. Real Madrid 1:0 Valencia, 0.8 to 1, Valencia 1:0 Real Madrid, 1.5 to 1. Real Madrid 2:0 Valencia, 2 to 1, Valencia 2:0 Real Madrid, 2.5 to 1. Real Madrid 3:0 Valencia, 3.5 to 1, Valencia 3:0 Real Madrid, 4.6 to 1. There are also numbers like 1:2, 2:1, 3:1, 3:2 after that. There are even 4:0 and 5:0.

However, two goals in a football match is a lot. Three goals, not many games in a season. What's more, although Valencia is worse than Real Madrid, it can reach the Champions League final and is also a strong team. Few thought they would be conceded three goals by Real Madrid.

Therefore, the number of goals scored in betting is still 1:0, 2:1 and so on. But Guo Shouyun, who is from later generations and is a senior fan, knows in his heart that the ending of this game is 3:0. Real Madrid's three consecutive Champions League titles in 2000~2002 are too impressive. It's something every Real Madrid fan is talking about.

However, to be clear, the major European bookmakers are also high enough to offer Real Madrid's 3-0 victory over Valencia. But how to press is also a matter that needs to be seriously considered.

First of all, the taxation of the gambling industry in European countries is different, although it is not as perverted as the United States levies 50%, but France, Spain, Germany, etc. will also levy 20% of the total winnings, and the United Kingdom is less, 15%! But Guo Shouyun, who is not very rich now, is still short of money. Therefore, Canada, which does not charge gambling taxes, is a good choice. As long as they don't misunderstand that you're a professional gambler, you'll be fine.

However, Guo Shouyun is very skeptical, if he presses down the $80 million, if he wins, can the Canadian bookmaker come up with all the compensation as agreed?

So, after some more consideration, he divided the $80 million into three parts. Of these, $20 million was bet on Canadian bookmakers, $20 million on British bookmakers, and the remaining $40 million on those online bookmakers.

Online gambling is a well-known grey area in the European gaming industry due to regulatory difficulties. Offshore companies from abroad siphon billions of dollars in profits from it every year without having to pay taxes. Therefore, in the future, the United Kingdom, France and other countries were forced to have no choice, and began to issue online gaming licenses to increase the crackdown on online gambling, but it still could not be eradicated.

Guo Shouyun is also reluctant to pay taxes, and his Phoenix Capital is an offshore company, and it was also secret enough before the Swiss bank was beaten by Uncle Sam in '09. So, everything is taken for granted.

However, online gambling is a gray area, there is no legal protection, and he is afraid that he will not get back the money he invested. Therefore, in addition to finding as many websites as possible to diversify the risk, I also took out $20 million to put it in offline betting outlets in the UK. Coupled with Canada, the three-handed preparation not only ensures safety, but also ensures his maximum benefit.

However, this time he flew to England not just to gamble.

The next day, after a brief tidying up, Guo Shouyun went out with a black bag. Because he had done his research before he came back, he was able to find the 'Ritter Publishing Economics' on the ninth floor of the Bauhinia House in downtown London.

In the West, unlike in China, when an author finishes writing a new book, he does not sell it directly to the publisher, but first hands it over to the 'publishing agent', who then contacts the publisher to publish it.

These 'publishing brokers' not only have professional literary literacy, but also have business negotiation skills and legal awareness that the authors do not have, and can protect the legitimate rights and interests of the authors to the greatest extent.

Of course, these publishers are not free either, and they take 5% of the author's royalties as an employment fee.

"Hello sir, can I help you?"

"I want to meet Mr. Christopher Ritter!" Guo Shouyun said directly.

"Do you have an appointment?"

"No! but I have this!"

After the words fell, Guo Shouyun opened the briefcase and took out a stack of manuscripts!

And the name on the manuscript is "Harry Potter Prequels: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them"!

It's not 1997, when J.K. Rowling was holding a Harry Potter manuscript and no one was paying attention. As the Ritter Publishing Economic Company, which directly contributed to the global popularity of "Harry Potter", from the boss to the staff, is most familiar with this magical novel about wizards.

So after Guo Shouyun took out this manuscript, the eyes of the blonde beauty at the front desk instantly attracted almost all the attention of its superficial name.

"I think you'd better show it to Mr. Ritter. I think he'll reward you for your work after reading it!"

Looking at the manuscript handed over by Guo Shouyun, the front desk lady reached out and took it after a little hesitation.

"Please wait a minute!"

"Okay!"

Seeing the front desk lady hurrying away with her manuscript, Guo Shouyun smiled and sat down on the chair next to him. He was confident that Christopher Ritter would come to see him 100 percent if he saw his novel based on the main line of the Fantastic Beasts There movie. As long as the two meet, the rest of the matter will fall into place.

About six or seven minutes later, the sound of chaotic footsteps from far and near sounded in Guo Shouyun's ears. When he turned his head to look, three people came out of the inner work area.

In addition to the previous blonde front desk, the one who attracted Guo Shouyun's attention was still walking in the middle, wearing a look suit, with a thin figure, about thirty-six or seventeen years old.

"Boss, he's the author!"

The blonde front desk pointed to Guo Shouyundao, who had already stood up.

Christopher Ritter briefly looked at the young Asian man in a black coat with a somewhat immature face, but there was a calm temperament in his eyes that had experienced the vicissitudes of the world, and then strode over.

"Hello, I'm Christopher Ritter!"

"Hello Mr. Ritter, I'm Bruce Kwok!"

After a simple handshake, I heard Guo Shouyun's proficient English, "Mr. Guo is British?"

"No, Chinese Americans!"

Christopher Ritter's eyes moved, then he took a step back to the side, his right hand outstretched.

"Mr. Guo, why don't we go inside and talk?"

"Please!"

Under the guidance of Christopher Ritter, Guo Shouyun walked through the office area and came to his office.

After a brief glance at the large Harry Potter covers hanging on the walls of his office, Guo Shouyun sat down on the sofa in the reception area. After Ritter's young secretary served coffee, the next step was to negotiate.

"Mr. Guo, despite the time just now, I didn't watch too much. But this "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" is indeed a wonderful novel. But I would say that a lot of it is a plagiarism of Rowling's Harry Potter. Therefore, it cannot be published unless we have permission to do so. ”

After glancing at the manuscript that Christopher Ritter was clutching tightly in his hand, Guo Shouyun put down his coffee cup and smiled indifferently.

"Mr. Ritter, you and I both know that, apart from the popular words of wizards, the Ministry of Magic, and staffs, this novel of mine has nothing to do with Ms. Rowling's Harry Potter by half a penny!

"Then why did it change?"

Christopher Ritter's heart moved, and then asked.

Looking at Ritter, who looked a little nervous and concerned, Guo Shouyun no longer concealed his purpose.

"If it had changed, I'm afraid I wouldn't have seen Mr. Ritter so soon!"

Hearing the meaning of Guo Shouyun's words, Christopher Ritter breathed a sigh of relief. Although he only read five or six chapters of this book called "Fantastic Beasts Are There" just now because of time constraints, with his literary literacy and insight, coupled with the ingenious but not close connection with "Harry Potter", he is at least 80% sure that this will be a popular book that has sold more than one million copies.

"Mr. Guo, I think the cooperation between us will be very pleasant!"

Now that Guo Shouyun has already expressed his intentions, Christopher Ritter will naturally not be indifferent to the benefits sent to the door.

Looking at the other party's right hand that took the initiative to reach out in front of him, Guo Shouyun did not reach out to shake it.

"Mr. Ritter, don't be in a hurry. I have two other sets of books here, so I might as well read them first!"

After the words fell, Guo Shouyun took out the written "Pirates of the Caribbean" and "Fifty Shades of Grey" from the briefcase he was carrying.

"Pirates of the Caribbean, Fifty Shades of Grey, all of which were written by Mr. Guo?"

"Of course, along with the previous book "Fantastic Beasts Are There", I have already registered the copyright in the United States. Guo Shouyun said.

Christopher Ritter nodded, picked up the first book of Pirates of the Caribbean, "The Curse of the Black Pearl", and read it.

"Pirates of the Caribbean" is a novel written by Guo Shouyun based on the movie, and currently only three books have been written: "The Curse of the Black Pearl", "Gathering Soul Coffin" and "The End of the World", and the rest of "Stormy Waves" and "Death Without Proof", as well as "King of the Four Seas", have not yet had time to write because of time constraints.

What he wants is to use these three to occupy the 'pit' first, and then write a sequel later, and there is still time.