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Odds on the Effects of Coronavirus – Worst to Come for Dow? Trump to Declare National Emergency? Which Events Cancelled?

JJ De La Torre

by JJ De La Torre in News

Updated Apr 13, 2020 · 8:37 AM PDT

People wearing masks on the street
What will the effects be of the ever-growing coronavirus? Photo by Macau (Unsplash).
  • The ever-present fear of coronavirus is growing and growing by the day
  • What will the effects of the virus be on upcoming events? Will massive gatherings like the Olympics actually be cancelled?
  • Morbid prop bets on the global crisis

You’d definitely have to be living in a cave by now if you haven’t heard of the biggest trending word of 2020: coronavirus.

It’s a public-health scare for the ages and has already causes thousands of deaths world-wide.

Some are saying people are overreacting to a health scare that isn’t even as dangerous as the regular flu, but they are in the minority.

Just how much of an impact will the virus have on upcoming global events and the world population? That’s the subject of a series of props just released.

Odds on Dow Jones Experiencing a Worse Week Than October 10, 2008

Outcome Odds
Yes +400
No -700

All odds taken  Mar. 4

In October of 2008, the world faced a global financial crisis. The Dow Jones dropped 777.68 points in a single day of trading– the largest point drop of all time at that point. The world was literally shook with this news.

The Dow initially plummeted due to Congress’ rejection of a proposed bank bailout bill. Though the bill eventually passed, the damage was already done.

The potential of the Dow having a week that’s worse than the massive dip it saw 12 years ago is not likely. Yes, coronavirus can have lasting effects — including in the finance sector — but it isn’t going to hit the Dow worse than the financial crisis of 2008.

Pick: No (-700)

Odds on Coronavirus Killing More People Than the Black Plague

Odd Odds
Yes +3000
No -10000

It seems a grim conversation to have, but given how nervous people are about coronavirus, it seems valid to at least look back to our world history to consider the damage done by other global health events.

Back in the 1300s, the Black Plague took the lives of roughly 75 to 200 million people over a five-year period. Because it was so long ago and the world was such a different place then, exact death tolls are not available for this time frame. This prop bet does not specify the number of deaths it would take to surpass the plague.

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Even if you aim at the lower end of the scale, imagining 75 million people to die from Coronavirus seems like a stretch. Presently, 3,254 people have sadly died due to the virus since January.

Statistically speaking, the Black Plague wiped out people much quicker and took more lives when comparing timelines.

It unfortunately might be a while before this horrible virus goes away, but with modern medicine, technology, and resources, we’re far more equipped to protect ourselves on a mass scale than we were 700 years ago.

Pick: No (-10000)

Odds on Earth’s Population in 2021

Odd Odds
Over 7.4 Billion -4000
Under 7.4 Billion +1500

The current population of planet Earth is around 7.8 billion people. As we all know, the world population has been steadily growing, tripling in number from 60 years ago.

This impressive population growth is nothing short of amazing. People love reproducing, it seems. But in the face of global issues such as Coronavirus, the question is whether or not we can maintain that steady growth.

As we know by looking at the death toll of Coronavirus so far, the amount of people dying from this horrible virus is growing, but it isn’t killing off enough humans to damage the population’s growth.

The props in this category are essentially asking if millions of people will die from Coronavirus. Leaning toward optimism and faith in the medical technologies around us, I’m personally choosing to hope on the side of humanity.

Pick: Over 7.4 Billion (-4000)

Odds on Trump Declaring National Emergency Due to Coronavirus

Odd Odds
Yes +150
No -200

Since stepping into office three years ago, President Trump has declared a total of five National Emergencies, ranging from his opinion of the U.S.-Mexico border to banning  American companies from using telecommunications equipment considered a national security risk.

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None of Trump’s National Emergency declarations have been health-related so far. Of his five declarations, four have been sanctions-related and one has been military-related. The U.S. hasn’t seen a health-related sanction since President Obama’s declaration of the H1N1 pandemic in 2009, which ended in 2010.

According to White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham, Trump does take Coronavirus seriously, though. Allegedly, Trump has donated his 2019 Q4 salary to use in combating Coronavirus.

That said, Coronavirus hasn’t had a big enough death toll in the U.S. for Trump to comment on in terms of a National Emergency.

Pick: No (-200)

 

Odds on Cancellations Due to Coronavirus

Prop Yes Odds No Odds
2020 Olympics +500 -1000
UEFA Euro 2020 +1000 -2500
2020 WSOP +1000 -2500
Coachella 2020 +500 -1000

Can you really imagine the daisy crown-wearing Millennials who forked out hundreds of dollars to attend Coachella taking this lightly? As they say, the show must go on.

Coronavirus has killed thousands, and it’s definitely nothing to turn a blind eye to. But on a global scale, the world moves forward no matter what else is going on globally. These massively popular and money-making events are all going to go on without a hitch. Count on it.

Pick: All No (-1000 to -2500)

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