Bodog bettors like Ivey
The smart money at Bodog is on Phil Ivey to outlast chip leader Darvin Moon at the 2009 WSOP Main Event final table.Despite the fact he currently sits seventh in chips, it appears Bodog sportsbook bettors believe Phil Ivey will outlast chip leader Darvin Moon at the 2009 WSOP Main Event final table this November.
“To win overall and also on head to head, the early money is one the name recognition of Phil Ivey,” Bodog.com Sportsbook Manager Richard Gardner said.
“People really believe he will be able to last longer than Darvin Moon, which has moved the line down on Phil Ivey from +350 to +300.”
Bodog sets lines for the November Nine on everything from who will win the tournament to who will be the first player eliminated, head-to-head last longers and the suit of the river card in the final hand.
Gardner said a lot of the money wagered on the November Nine came in the first couple days after the final table was set, but the action has since cooled off.
“Most people are waiting until it gets closer to fight time,” Gardner said. ”There are a few thousand dollars on most of the head to heads, although as mentioned, we do expect a lot more closer to the event.
“Once the episodes featuring the final table players air on television and the public can become more accustomed to the players, we expect interest and activity to pick up.”
In fact, Gardner is predicting more than six figures will be booked by Bodog by the time the Nov. 7 final table rolls around.
“As it gets closer we expect the majority of the handle to come in especially in the last day before the tournament,” he said.
Bodog has hundreds of thousands of customers worldwide and although November Nine betting has come from all over the globe so far, Gardner said with the heavy American final table, most of the bettors have been from the United States.
Last week, Betfair’s International Public Relations Manager Richard Bloch told PokerListings most of the money wagered on the November Nine on Betfair has been on Phil Ivey so far, moving the odds of him winning down substantially.
Bodog still lists Moon as the favorite to win at 1.7:1. Young-yet-experienced American Eric Buchman is the second favorite at 3:1 while Full Tilt’s Ivey sits in a group at 4:1, including Wall Street banker Steven Begleiter and CardPlayer editor Jeff Shulman.
21-year-old Michigan native Joe Cada currently sits at 10:1 with French Everest Poker qualifier Antoine Saout and 51-year-old Floridian Kevin Schaffel right behind at 12:1.
Brit James Akenhead is the long shot at 22:1.
For an up to date look at all the November Nine lines on Bodog, check out the sportsbook’s poker props page.
Those looking for more on sports betting and sportsbooks in general can find it here and here.
