As we count down to the final American Idol show of Season 5 (May 24) a lot of focus will be on the online gambling sites that accept betting on American Idol. 

Ed Bark of the Dallas Morning News obviously using Gambling911.com as a source for American Idol betting odds information, this week contacted a number of Gambling911.com endorsed sportsbooks that all agree on the phenomenon that is American Idol and how it has helped generate lucrative business during what would normally be a slow season for a number of online bookmakers.

Tim Williams of PlayersOnly.com (See Web Site Here), one of many Internet sites offering weekly odds, says the Fox juggernaut easily is "the single biggest non-sports betting event."

"I live in amazement, just seeing where the country has gone in the last five years," he told Bank during a phone interview. "From hardcore sports handicappers smoking cigars to people betting on `American Idol' and `Survivor.' At a minimum I'm sure we take as many wagers on `American Idol' as we do on some baseball games. It's phenomenal to have something like this even in the same league."

PlayersOnly and rival betting sites such as Betmaker.com (See Web Site Here) and PinnacleSports.com (See Web Site Here) agree that Chris Daughtry is the prohibitive favorite among the five remaining contestants. They're just as certain that Paris Bennett barely has a scant chance. Going into Tuesday's latest performance show, here's how the three of them stack things up:

PlayersOnly, which only offers action on the eventual Idol winner, has Daughtry as a 13-10 pick. In other words, for every $10 bet, you can win an additional $3. Bennett, the long shot, is listed at 20-1. That would be a tidy return of $19 for each buck wagered if she somehow sings her way to the top.

Betmaker lists Daughtry at 1.3-1 (a 30-cent return on the dollar) while Bennett is a 26-1 proposition. The site also takes action on which contestant will be eliminated next. Bennett is an extremely heavy "favorite" at 5-10. This means you have to wager a minimum of $10 to win just $5 besides not losing your 10-spot. Or you could blow a measly $1 on Daughtry. The odds of him being voted off are 20-1.

Pinnaclesports is on the same page regarding Daughtry and Bennett. But the site also offers an array of other wagering options. There's even an "Idol Exacta" that lets betters pick the top two finishers in order. A combo of Daughtry and Katharine McPhee is listed at +259, which means you have to risk $100 to win $259. Bennett and Elliot Yamin are deemed the least likely one-two finishers at +70,000. Wow, what a payoff! Still, it's a sucker's bet.

Sports Interaction (See Web Site Here) and YouWager.com (See Web Site Here) were also mentioned in the article. 

Sports Interaction (See Web Site Here) it is pointed out is now taking action on accusations related to sexual harassment on the job leveled at Maury Povich with betting options that include: "Maury and Connie divorce" (8-1). Or "Maury and Connie appear on `Dr. Phil'" (12-1).

YouWager.com (See Web Site Here) still offers odds on whether Paula Abdul will check into rehab for alcoholism. 

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Gambling911.com News Wire

Originally published May 2, 2006 1:40 pm EST