American Robert Prevost is New Pope: Payout is $1800 on a $100 Bet

It's an upset of biblical proportions.

American-born Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost has been chosen by the conclave to be the next pope. He will be known as Pope Leo XIV.  For gamblers, he paid out $1800 for every $100 bet.

Luis Antonio Tagle and Pietro Parolin had been the co-favorites for the weeks following Pope Francis' death.

133 red-robed cardinals from around the world cast their ballots to elect the new pontiff.  During the papal conclave, the cardinals were barred from leaving or having any contact with the outside world as they selected the next leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.

Polymarket's prediction market took in over $20 million in pope bets.

Pope gambling filled in the void between a crazy Kentucky Derby and the upcoming Preakness Stakes.

Speaking of which, this year's Kentucky Derby was our most trafficked since before the days of Covid.

But just like the Triple Crown, pope betting isn't over just yet.

Expect more wagering odds on the upcoming ceremony to install the new pope as well as prop bets on some of his first proclamations, maybe attendance totals, and so on.  Our oddsmakers friends do not exactly lack in the Imagination Department.