Vegas had Ratzinger the early favorite at 6-2.
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/arizonaliving/articles/0416popebets16.html
Vegas declines but, online and off, bettors pin hopes on a pope
Don Fernandez
Cox News Service
Apr. 16, 2005 12:00 AM
ATLANTA - Even in the hedonistic halls of sin city, something remains sacred.
As the world awaits who will be christened the next head of the Catholic Church, Las Vegas oddsmakers are refusing to make odds on the identity of the new pontiff.
John Avello, handicapper at Bally's and Paris Las Vegas casinos, said he wasn't placing predictions on who would succeed Pope John Paul II due to "taste" issues.
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But some are still finding a way to play on the papacy.
At Irish-based Internet gambling site popebetting.com, German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was the 7-2 fave, followed by France's Jean-Marie Lustiger (4-1) and Italian Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini trailing at third (9-2).
Popebetting.com also offers profiles, pros and cons, health information and prophetic predictions for candidates.
William Hill, a British-based international gambling service, had a different line. Their favorite for the new pontiff is Nigerian Cardinal Francis Arinze, with 9-4 odds. The agency calculates the archbishop of Milan, Dionigi Tettamanzi, has 7-2 odds, and Honduran Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga at 6-1.
"We've done papal betting before, so we've got a reputation for this, and there's certainly a demand for it," said Graham Sharpe, a spokesman for William Hill.
The conclave to elect a pope convenes Monday. A two-thirds majority, which equals 77 of 115 cardinals, is required.