by Ryan D. Jaeger
Online bookmakers have been offering odds on the 2010 Academy Awards for some
time now, and wagering reached near hysteria peak in the 24 hours leading up to
the Oscars.
Odds were almost the same across all bookies for favourites to win, and now
that the Oscars have been handed to their deserved winners, it is safe to say
that bookies correctly predicted in most categories.
Among those winners that bookies correctly predicted included:
- Christopher Waltz - Inglorious Basterds.
- Up! - Best animated movie.
- Crazy Heart's The Weary Kind - Best song
- Mo'nique - Best supporting actress
- Jeff Bridges - Best Actor in Crazy Heart
- Sandra Bullock - Best actress in The Blind Side
Bookies had to pay out 2/1 odds on wagers on the Hurt Locker to win best
original screenplay as most had Inglorious Basterds as their favourite to win.
Earlier this week, Coral bookmakers complained that turnover had been poor in
comparison to last year as there were so many 'certainties' in the six
categories that it offered odds on.
"The Hurt Locker has been well backed to turnover the original favourite,
Avatar, for Best Picture, but apart from that, all the other awards had an
odds-on favourite from the outset, and as we only accept single bets, the
majority of punters aren't interested in placing bets for minimum returns," said
a Coral spokesperson.
The Academy Awards were certainly a star studded event that saw The Hurt
Locker winning no less than six Oscars including best picture, best original
screenplay and best director.
Kathryn Bigelow become the first woman ever to win a best director Oscar. She
described her victory as "the moment of a lifetime."
