The Latest Movers and Groovers Among the Novelty Betting Markets
Author:
Roy Brindley
The 94th Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are a full six months away but the betting is open on which movie will land the coveted Best Picture Award and we have an early favorite.
At 8/1 Blue Bayou is the current market leader. The American drama, directed by Justin Chon, had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in July and was released in the United States last week. Film critics have given it excellent reviews.
Director Ridley Scott and Lady Gaga filming a scene of ‘House of Gucci’ in Rome earlier this year. ?GettyImage
Gaga and Gucci an Oscar Winner?
House of Gucci, an American biographical crime thriller directed by Ridley Scott and filmed exclusively in Italy, is also prominent in the Best Picture betting. Featuring an exceptionally strong cast of Jeremy Irons, Adam Driver, and Al Pacino, Lady Gaga plays the lead role of Patrizia Reggiani. The character was tried and convicted of plotting Maurizio Gucci’s murder in 1995.
Not set for release until late November, bookmakers’ have introduced the film into their Best Picture Oscar betting at 10/1. Lady Gaga can be backed at 12/1 for the Best Actress award with BetVictor.
At Peace With New Zealand Policy
Another important award ceremony – the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize – is scheduled to take place beforehand. While the recipient will not receive their award until December, their identity will be revealed by the Norwegian Nobel Committee in Oslo on October 8th, 2021.
Of the 234 individuals and 95 organizations that have been nominated, the World Health Organization tops the betting list at 11/10. Black Lives Matter (7/1) and Alexei Navalny (8/1) follow.
This week there has been a rush of money for New Zealand’s Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern. She has been backed into 12/1 From 20/1 for the prize in recent days. The 41-year-old leader has steered her country through the coronavirus pandemic with huge success and admiration from the rest of the world.
Before rushing to your bookmaker to join the stampede it is noteworthy the Chicago Tribune recently pointed out only 57 of the more than 900 people who have won a Nobel Prize have been women.
Dreaming of a 4/1 Winner
William Hill bookmakers has priced-up the odds on a white Christmas at various locations around the UK. This is a precursor for an early December press release declaring ‘odds have been slashed’ on the various outcomes.
Will Edinburgh see a flake of snow on Christmas Day? The current 4/1 about it happening seems generous. ?GettyImage
At present, you can back Edinburgh Airport at 4/1. The formbook says that price will be into 2/1 by the first week of December regardless of the weather forecasts at the time. The message here is back the outcome now – if you think it will happen.
Statistically, you could argue 4/1 is a great price too. William Hill’s rules state: “Settlement of bets will be determined by data supplied by British Weather Services.” This means only a flake of snow needs to be observed falling (not necessarily reaching the ground) during any part of the 24 hours of December 25th for the bet to be a winner.
That’s right, one flake of snow at 3.30am and Christmas Day will be declared to be a white Christmas. Basically, rain with a two-degree ground-level temperature should suffice. However, snow that is laid on the ground from heavy snowfall from a few days beforehand will not constitute a white Christmas for betting purposes.
