Las Vegas Weekly

January 19, 2009 · 2:39 PM

Betting on Obama, literally

By Garrett Downing

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

With Barack Obama ready to take the Oval Office tomorrow as the 44th President of the United States, the world is preparing to watch history in the making. A record audience is expected to tune into the inauguration, and online gambling sites are giving people the chance to cash in on the historic event.

Gambling on politics is illegal in Nevada, but offshore sites like Paddy Power and Betsson are providing bettors with wagers that range from the color of Obama’s tie to what he will say first after getting sworn in as President.

“Change has come” brings in 8-to-1 odds, while the more controversial and highly unlikely “Always bet on black!” has odds at 500-to-1.

How about the first celebrity shown in the crowd?

Oprah (7-to-4) or Bruce Springsteen (6-to-1) seem logical choices, but for the risky gambler back-from-the-brink-of-insanity Britney Spears or former presidential candidate Paris Hilton might make more appealing bets with the higher payouts from 33-to-1 odds.

Will Obama say the word “banana” in his inaugural speech? Probably not. But if he does, it will produce a big payday for somebody with odds at 800-to-1. What about the odds of getting someone in the front row to throw a banana on stage during the address?

Here’s a list of some of the online wagers available for people who want to add a little extra excitement to their inauguration viewing:

How long with the first address last?

Under 10 minutes - 8-1

10-13 minutes - 6-1

14-17 minutes - 4-1

18-21 minutes - 10-3

22-25 minutes - 9-4

26-29 minutes - 3-1

30 minutes or more - 9-2

What will Obama say first?

Change has come - 8-1

Yes We Can - 10-1

Fundamental belief - 12-1

As I stand here today - 12-1

God Bless America - 12-1

Defining moment - 12-1

Let me be clear - 14-1

I have a dream - 16-1

I’m fired up - 6-1

We can not lose hope - 25-1

For far too long - 33-1

A new direction - 40-1

Homes to the homeless - 40-1

Abiding faith - 40-1

Doors or opportunity - 66-1

An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind. - 100-1

Let’s get ready to rumble - 250-1

Life is like a box of chocolates - 250-1

Always bet on black! - 500-1

What will happen first under President Obama?

Full troop withdrawal from Iraq - 2-5

Capture of Osama bin Laden - 6-1

Legalization of Marijuana - 12-1

Total ban on capital punishment - 20-1

Moonwalk confirmed as fake by Obama - 50-1

Complete ban on privately owned guns - 100-1

First celebrity shown in the crowd:

Oprah - 7-4

Bruce Springsteen - 7-4

Tom Hanks - 10-1

Arnold Schwarzengger - 10-1

Sting - 16-1

Will.i.am - 20-1

Spike Lee - 20-1

P Diddy - 20-1

Ron Howard - 25-1

Chris Rock - 33-1

Britney Spears - 33-1

Paris Hilton - 33-1

Color of Obama’s tie:

Red - 11-10

Blue - 11-8

Grey - 5-1

Black - 8-1

Bow tie - 10-1

White - 12-1

Pink - 25-1

What words will Obama say during his Inauguration speech?

The United States - 1.01-1

God Bless America - 1.05-1

Recession - 1.06-1

Bush - 1.50-1

Iraq - 1.70-1

Arizona Cardinals - 2-1

Dream - 2.50-1

Martin Luther King - 2.50-1

Race - 3-1

Pittsburgh Steelers - 3-1

Hamas - 5-1

Wall Street - 5-1

College Football Playoff - 20-1

Spy - 100-1

Sarah Palin - 100-1

Poker - 200-1

Cocaine - 500-1

Axis of Evil - 666-1

Banana - 800-1

Doyle Brunson - 1000-1

Peru - 1000-1

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