The FIFA World Cup will obviously dominate the 2010 sporting calendar and William Hill predict the summer spectacular will be the first event to generate over £1billion in betting turnover.

With accessible kick-off times and England among the favourites to shine in South Africa, the stage is set for a battle royal between punters and bookmakers.

"Every four years the World Cup sets new betting records and with the open nature of this tournament and the enormous hype building up around it, that £1billion barrier looks certain to be smashed for the first time," said Hills spokesman Graham Sharpe.

"For punters an England triumph would be the dream outcome, but for bookies that would be a multi-million pound nightmare – the worst result since Frankie Dettori nearly bankrupted the industry by riding all seven winners in one day at Ascot.

"We want to see England go very close without winning, in fact beaten in the final on a penalty shoot-out, which we make a 90/1 chance, would do us very nicely."

The Three Lions are 11/2 joint second favourites alongside Brazil for overall glory, with Spain the market leaders at 9/2 to follow up their Euro 2008 success.

Punters can get 4/9 for any European country to lift the trophy, 9/4 a South American nation comes out on top and 16/1 at Betfred for a first African winner.

England can be backed at 15/8 with Victor Chandler to claim maximum points from their three group games against USA, Algeria and Slovenia, whilst Wayne Rooney is 11/4 at Boylesports to be their leading goalscorer.

Fabio Capello's side are 6/1 with Blue Square to be knocked out on penalties at any stage and it is 11/10 at William Hill for an England player to be sent off during the tournament.

David Beckham is 4/1 with Sky Bet to start against America, 10/1 with William Hill to score in that match and 33/1 at Coral to bag the winning goal in the World Cup final in Johannesburg on July 11.

TENNIS

While Andy Murray again made solid progress in 2009, with six title wins being an ATP Tour best, the glaring omission from his CV remains a Grand Slam victory.

No-one is doubting how tough it will be to break through with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal still around, but Novak Djokovic and Juan Martin Del Potro have both stepped up to the next level in the last two years.

A Wimbledon semi-final loss to Andy Roddick was the nearest Murray came last term, however, and Coral are quoting the Scot at 6/4 to land any of the big four events in 2010.

"Although Murray was unable to make his Major breakthrough in 2009, he did reach a career high ranking, and proved once again that he is a contender for all Grand Slam honours," said spokesman David Stevens.

"However, the men's game is extremely competitive at the top level, with Roger Federer still the man to beat, and although Murray will surely one day pick up a Major title, we make it odds-on that the wait goes on for another year."

Murray did, though, briefly break the Federer-Nadal four-year stranglehold on the top two places in the world rankings, reaching second spot after an August Masters triumph in Montreal.

The 22-year-old is 7/1 at Betfred to end the forthcoming season as No 1 and 13/2 to be second in the table come December.

Also worth a mention on the women's side is the return of Justine Henin, who is 7/4 with totesport to emulate Belgian compatriot Kim Clijsters with a Grand Slam success in her comeback year.

"Henin was arguably a better player than Clijsters in her pomp so could easily follow her fellow Belgian in making a successful comeback in 2010," said spokesman George Primarolo.

"However, there's no guarantee that she will return as good as she was and it may just be that she'll need a good few months to get her competitive edge back."

GOLF

The unlikely quartet of Angel Cabrera, Lucas Glover, Stewart Cink and Yong-Eun Yang will go into this year's Majors as defending champions but there is cause for optimism that Europe can provide a big four winner in 2010.

Tiger Woods' spectacular fall from grace leaves the door definitely ajar and there is a steady line of golfers from this side of the Atlantic well placed to push on through.

Padraig Harrington ended a long barren run dating back to 1999 with two Open triumphs and a USPGA success between 2007 and 2008 and the Irishman is 5/1 favourite with William Hill to be the next European to land a Major.

But then we have rising star Rory McIlroy and Race to Dubai champion Lee Westwood on 6/1, while Spanish star Sergio Garcia has been placed on several occasions and is 10/1 for this market alongside Paul Casey.

"All the money has been for Rory but we think Padraig will be the man for Europe again," said Hills spokesman Rupert Adams.

Of course, any success at the Augusta Masters in April, the US Open at Pebble Beach in June, our Open at St Andrews in July or the PGA in Wisconsin in August would also boost morale ahead of October's Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor.

Europe's run of three straight victories came to an end in Louisville last time but they are favourites at a top-priced 10/11 with Ladbrokes to regain the trophy in Wales.

F1

British Formula One fans have had a fantastic couple of years but all of their eggs will be in one basket after current drivers' champion Jenson Button joined 2008 title winner Lewis Hamilton at the Woking-based McLaren team.

Button stole a march on the rest of the field with six victories in the first seven grands prix last term as his Brawn camp cleverly exploited a few technical loopholes.

However, by the end of the season he was limping over the line as Hamilton hinted at much better things to come with four pole positions in the final seven races.

So the switch looks a wise move for Button and Blue Square are offering 7/2 that he and Hamilton finish first and second in any order in the 2010 championship standings, while it is 11/8 for either to give England a title hat-trick.

"Consecutive British winners and some great coverage from the BBC have really brought F1 to a new army of fans," said spokesman Alan Alger.

"The extension of Silverstone's contract as the British GP venue for the next 17 years was topped by the best news of all – Britain will effectively have its own team in next season's Championship.

"With Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button competing as McLaren team-mates we are 11/8 that either of them can keep the title on these shores."

However, the ominous figure of Michael Schumacher is lurking menacingly and the seven-time champion is 6/4 with Blue Square to add to his 91 grand prix wins with at least one more race victory this season.

CRICKET

The clamour for more and more Twenty20 cricket sees another World Cup in 2010, with the sport's new cash-cow moving to the Caribbean this time around.

England disappointed on home soil in the second staging of this event and, despite an improvement in their limited-overs form since then, Stan James are happy to lay 12/1 they come out on top in Barbados on May 16.

"England are improving in Twenty20 but the bottom line is that we remain some way behind other nations and we are quite keen to get England in the book," said spokesman Charlie McCann.

"Kevin Pietersen has hardly set the world alight in the IPL and our top order does not look able to pace a T20 innings, although the form of Paul Collingwood and the emergence of Eoin Morgan have been big positives in 2009.

"A fully-fit Andrew Flintoff remains essential to our chances in all forms of limited-over cricket but we remain a bowler short from having a top-class T20 attack."

On the domestic front, Durham are clear favourites to claim a third straight County Championship title and Ladbrokes fear they may be made to pay for offering a top-priced 2/1 the hat-trick is landed.

"The turnaround at Durham in the past decade is one of sport's great success stories," said spokesman David Williams. "They have the youth, talent and now the vital winning experience to seal an historic treble."

BOXING

Casting aside our British bias, one scheduled fight for 2010 stands head and shoulders above the rest – Floyd Mayweather Jr versus Manny Pacquiao on March 13.

The two best pound-for-pound boxers on the planet are set to go toe-to-toe in a clash that will no doubt shatter box office and betting records alike.

Despite only one outing in the last two years, Mayweather is a firm favourite with most bookmakers, but bet365 are looking to take on the American by offering a stand-out 8/11.

"It's a mouth-watering fight but we think Pacquiao will be too quick and throw too many punches for Mayweather to handle," said spokesman Steve Freeth.

Ricky Hatton can testify to the class of both men but may have his mind on other matters if making a comeback, with the Hitman 11/10 at Sky Bet to win a touted tussle against Mexican veteran Juan Manuel Marquez.

The same firm would rate the Mancunian a 5/4 underdog if taking on Amir Khan, although Frank Warren has poured cold water on the prospects of that clash coming off.

David Haye is a hot favourite to successfully defend his newly-acquired WBA heavyweight crown against John Ruiz around April but sportingbet are offering 2/1 he then adds another major belt to his trophy cabinet.

That would almost certainly involve beating one of the mighty Klitschko brothers – with Vitali holding the WBC title and Wladimir in control of the IBF and WBO gongs.

RUGBY UNION

Ireland's golden generation finally delivered the goods in last season's Six Nations and they will go into the 2010 championship seeking to become the first team to claim successive Grand Slams since Italy were introduced.

Their fixture list looks a little more daunting this time, with Italy at home on February 6 quickly followed by trips to France and England.

But Munster and Leinster have dominated the Heineken Cup in recent years and a number of their stars shone for the Lions in South Africa, so travel sickness should not be a problem.

Irish firm Boylesports predictably took a big hit as Brian O'Driscoll and Co hit the jackpot last time, but they are offering a tempting 6/1 for a repeat five-timer for the men in green.

"It was a tremendous result for the whole country when Ireland won the Grand Slam for the first time in 61 years, but we certainly got our fingers burnt," said spokesman Leon Blanche.

"It cost us over €1.5million and we'll be looking at even more if they do it again this time around.

"Ireland had a very strong autumn campaign which culminated in the defeat of world champions South Africa at Croke Park and there's no doubt that this team are going into the Six Nations full of confidence.

"It will be much harder having to travel to England and France but it would be dangerous to write the boys off though – they're playing with so much belief, which was probably best characterised with their gutsy recent fightback against Australia."

France are actually 7/4 favourites to top the Six Nations table, though, with Ireland 5/2, Wales 7/2, England 9/2, Scotland 22/1 and Italy 250/1.

RUGBY LEAGUE

Super League fans have been suffering from deja vu of late as the last three Grand Finals have all seen Leeds beating St Helens at Old Trafford and bookmakers believe the status quo will remain next season.

The Rhinos are again hot favourites at 11/8 with Sky Bet to prevail at the theatre of dreams on October 2 and the same firm are offering 3/1 they meet Saints in the decider once more.

"Only minor additions have been made to both squads during the off season and a fourth consecutive Leeds versus St Helens Grand Final really does look the likeliest outcome," said Sky Bet's rugby league betting compiler Dave Sykes.

Warrington did at least end St Helens' Challenge Cup monopoly in 2009 and the big-spending Wolves are 9/1 at best to retain that trophy at Wembley on August 28.

With Saints having previously landed a hat-trick of triumphs in this competition, it is 5/4 with Sky Bet for a fifth straight Lancashire success this year.

Punters can get the same price for a first Yorkshire-based winner since 2003, 6/1 for either of the Hull clubs to strike and 8/1 for London, Wales and France combined.

SNOOKER

Not since Cliff Thorburn way back in 1980 has there been an overseas winner of the World Snooker Championship but several candidates will head to the Crucible in April with a decent chance of bucking that trend.

Chinese prodigy Ding Junhui finally looks like fulfilling his enormous potential after taking the UK Championship in Telford, having previously finished runner-up to Australia's Neil Robertson at the Grand Prix in Glasgow.

Liang Wenbo began the season by reaching the Shanghai Masters final and former Sheffield semi-finalist Marco Fu has always enjoyed tournaments with a longer format.

World Snooker Championship sponsors Betfred still make England Even money to provide the 2010 winner, with Scotland 11/4 to claim a fourth crown in five years, Ireland 14/1 and Wales 16/1, but it is just 4/1 for the rest of the world combined.

"Apart from having the outright favourite in Ronnie O'Sullivan, England has to be considered the most likely nation to supply the World Championship winner due to sheer numbers," said spokesman Jon Wilde.

"But the Rest of the World provides an interesting option with Ding and Liang emerging forces for China and Robertson a likely future champion in many people's opinion."

Thorburn was, of course, the first player to hit a 147 at the Crucible in 1983, but there have been eight more since and with three registered in the last two years it is 10/11 at Betfred for another maximum this time.