Martin Staszko is the favorite to win at 14/5
Nevada Gaming Control Board approved changes to sports book betting earlier this year with the addition of action on non-sports events. Although odds have been posted in the past on non-sporting events the bookmakers could not accept wagers and did it for fun only. The first non-sporting event that will post odds and actually accept wagers is the final table of the 2011 World Series of Poker Main event to be played in November.
Following the lead of the Wynn Resort sports book most casinos around Las Vegas have posted betting odds on the November Nine. The unanimous betting favorite is chip leader Martin Stasko at 14/5, a slight favorite over Eoghan O'Dea at 3/1. The following list gives the odds for each of the nine remaining poker players to win the November final table. Odds are subject to change.
Martin Staszko - 14/5
Eoghan O'Dea - 3/1
Matt Gianetti - 7/2
Phil Collins - 4/1
Ben Lamb - 9/2
Badih Bounahra - 6/1
Pius Heinz - 8/1
Anton Makievskyi - 10/1
Samuel Holden - 12/1
Ironically, Caesars Entertainment properties including the Rio Resort, home of the WSOP, has not posted betting odds. Due to their ownership of the World Series of Poker tournament Caesars casinos have to meet additional standards. According to Seth Palansky, spokesperson for the WSOP, once cleared Caesars Entertainment sports books will offer a full complement of prop bets in addition to the winner action. Now everyone can have a piece of the action for the greatest poker tournament on the planet, the Main Event of the World Series of Poker.
