Obama is British bookies' favourite too

Washington, Nov 4 : Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama, who is said to be comfortably leading against his Republican rival John McCain in today's presidential poll, is the favourite among the British bookies too.

This assumes significance as past records show that gamblers had been "more accurate" than pollsters.

According to the Daily Times, placing bets on the outcome of US presidential elections is though barred under the US laws, but British bookmaker Betfair has made Barack Obama an overwhelming 1-7 favourite.

The odds mean that Betfair will pay 8 dollars for every 7 dollars bet on an Obama victory. Compared to that, every dollar placed on a McCain win will bring 6.80 dollars, added the paper.

Over the recent weeks, almost every poll showed Obama scoring an easy victory over McCain, winning as many as 291 electoral votes against the 270 needed for victory.

ANI