American Idol: Lakisha Jones, Melinda Dolittle Favored to Win
The American focused online gambling websites seem to have dropped the ball when it comes to American Idol betting. Their European rivals are doing what Gambling911.com would expect immediately following airing of an American Idol elimination show, release those odds.
So kudos go out to PaddyPower. They don't take US bets online but their release of odds just goes to demonstrate how popular American Idol is to the international audience, including bettors.
And shame on Bodog.com, Sportsbook.com, BetUS.com and BetCRIS.com for being so slow to get these odds up. Gambling911.com, just like last year, received unprecedented traffic immediately following the airing of Thursday night's elimination results show....all people looking for the latest betting odds on Idol.
Lakisha Jones and Melinda Dolittle have been listed as the early favorites. The payout is extraordinary and too bad many of you can not bet with the Irish bookmaker, PaddyPower. For every US$1 bet, US$5 would be paid out on either Lakisha Jones or Melinda Dolittle (assuming one of these ladies wins it all). Both were impressive.
Actually, Jones was phenomenal or as judge Simon Cowell said "in an entirely different league". Dolittle showed she can probably compete with Lakisha Jones, however, on nights when Jones might be - well - a little off. The question remains: Will Lakisha Jones ever be a little off. This woman is fabulous.
One edge Melinda Dolittle has over Lakisha Jones is that she comes to us from Tennessee, in a region that traditionally enjoys a huge American Idol fan base.
All odds appear below and can be bet at PaddyPower
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Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com
Originally published February 23, 2007