Bet on the War...
 

From the Sunday NYTimes...now I've seen everything:

You Can Bet on It: Playing the Odds on War
GAMBLERS will bet on anything, including war. Several online gambling sites are currently offering odds on whether there will be war between the United States and Iraq. (Casinos in Nevada are "not allowed to accept wagers on anything other than horse racing or athletic sports," said Jerry Marking, the deputy chief of Nevada Gaming Control.)


At BetonSports.com, 4,400 bets, totaling about $250,000, have been placed.

Another company that lets people bet on the war, Tradesports.com, has attracted roughly 3,000 people, who have wagered about $620,000. And Newsfutures.com, a self-described "stock market of news events," about 400 people have bet "virtual money" in the hope of winning prizes as the best war predictors.

Here, then, are some odds on war, as of Feb. 28, 2003.
SAM LUBELL


Bet On Sports (www.betonsports.com)

Time frame in which the United States will launch an attack (an attack requires a minimum of 500 military units).
March 3 - 9: 2 to 1

March 10 - 16: 3 to 2

March 17 - 23: 7 to 4

March 24 - 30: 5 to 1

March 31 or after (but before Dec. 31, 2003): 3 to 2

Time between the start of the war and the American ground attack.
One week: 1 to 3

Two weeks: 5 to 2

Three weeks: 4 to 1

Four weeks: 15 to 2

Five weeks: 10 to 1

Six weeks: 20 to 1

Seven weeks or longer (but prior to Dec. 31, 2003): 5 to 1


Saddam Hussein's fate by June 30, 2003.

Still president of Iraq and in control of Baghdad: 2 to 1
Captured by the United States: 3 to 2

Dead: 3 to 2

Missing in action: 7 to 4

In political exile: 2 to 1

Tradesports (www.tradesports.com)
Saddam Hussein is no longer the leader of Iraq.

By March 31: 13 to 3

By April 30: 8 to 13

By May 31: 4 to 11

By June 30: 5 to 16


The United Nations Security Council passes a second resolution authorizing the use of force against Iraq.

By March 31: 3 to 1

By April 30: 2 to 1

Newsfutures (www.newsfutures.com)


The United States will launch a war against Iraq.

Before April: 1 to 2

Before May: 1 to 4


France will veto a United States-backed United Nations resolution authorizing the use of force against Iraq: 9 to 11

I'm bettin, haven't decided on what.

This could make bush SOOO much, $$$. ::Gets on the phone with colin powell::

Is Bush allowed to bet?

I saw another bet... 150:1 that Saddam gets abducted by aliens.

If he gets caught betting, they won't let him in the President's Hall Of Fame.

If he gets caught betting, he won't get those 13 virgins. I think gambling is against the Muslim rules.