[Crispy]

Is this market for real? Can I actually buy or sell short the candidates? What about options?

[goldstategop]

Yes, you can buy shares. The Minor League Baseball bobbleheads work on the same principle. Markets don't lie.

[SAJ]

Yes, you can buy or sell short at will, assuming only that there's an existing complementary offer or bid, or that one comes into existence before the event in question is resolved.

No options yet, although yr hmbl srvnt has been having talks with a couple of these books about establishing an options mkt. This is tricky, logistically -- the spreads on options on named events are apt to be SO wide that no one will play, therefore the book will almost surely have to offer some sort of ''sweetener'' to the punter. Either that or attract market-makers on VERY favourable terms.