Britney Spears Pegged to Start Dating Nick Lachey According to Bookmaker

As a 3 to 1 favorite that would pay out US$3 for every US$1 bet, Irish bookmaker PaddyPower.com has revealed its latest odds on who Britney Spears will be dating next, catapulting Jessica Simpson ex, Nick Lachey, into the lead.

It is not known what prompted the online bookmaker to post such odds.

Previous favorite, Robbie Williams, now enjoys the second shortest odds (though they haven't changed much), paying US$6 for every US$1 bet.

Leonardo DiCaprio and Colin Farrell are just some of the names PaddyPower has assigned to the next shortest odds of 10 to 1.

In recent weeks, Britney Spears has been spotted with the likes of Jonathan "JR" Rottem, a multi-platinum producer who has worked with 50 Cent and Paris Hilton as well as her ex, Kevin Federline.  While the two were seen "smooching" in public, confirmation of an actual date - an engagement to go out socially with another person, often out of romantic interest or one's companion on such a romantic outing - could not be verified, since the "romance" element was not immediately determined. 

Rottem has publicly expressed his love for Britney however.

“I really, really care about Britney. She`s such a unique person, and has an amazing personality. I think this will work out well, “a US magazine, quoted J.R.Rotem, as saying.

A few friends of the couple say Rotem is the right person to curb Britney Spears wild partying ways.  He wants nothing more than for Spears to spend more time with her young children as opposed to partying all night with the likes of socialites Paris Hilton and Lindsey Lohan. 

“J.R. is so clean and sober that he doesn’t even drink coffee. He isn`t impressed with Britney`s hardcore partying. He wants her to take herself more seriously and spend more time with her two kids, “a friend said.

American Idol judge Simon Cowell pays US$250 for every US$1 bet in case you were wondering.  Paris Hilton is not listed among the odds.  PaddyPower.com does not accept customers based in the United States at this time. 

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Sparky Collins, www.gambling911.com

Originally published December 27, 2006 11:48 am ET