"La La Land" is set to sweep the Oscars, but the race to be crowned Hollywood's leading man is going down to the wire, say bookmakers who are seeing record bets on the Academy Awards this year.
Casey Affleck, star of "Manchester by the Sea," had been the favorite to win the best actor statue for several months. But his odds tightened as a flood of money flowed to Denzel Washington after he took home the Screen Actors Guild award in January for "Fences."
Ladbrokes favors Affleck with 8/15 odds, compared with 13/8 for a Washington victory, but says it will be close.
"This is without a doubt the most competitive category of 2017," said Ladbrokes spokeswoman Nicola McGeady, who said a rush of bets on Washington in recent weeks had moved the market significantly.
Bookmakers, however, are overwhelmingly confident that "La La Land" will take home the best picture statuette on Sunday, Feb. 26.
"At 1/7, we reckon there is an 87.5 percent chance it will win best picture," said Feilim Mac An Iomaire, spokesman for Paddy Power Betfair.
The musical starring Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling has faced some recent competition from "Hidden Figures," the tale of black female mathematicians in the 1960s space race. But at 12/1, it's well behind the favorite.
Turnover on bets for novelty events such as the Academy Awards and other awards shows has doubled since 2014, said Mac An Iomaire.
"This year, we are expecting to end up 30 percent over last year, taking some 250,000 Euro ($270,000) in terms of the bets," he added.
Punters are finding several ways to put their money behind "La La Land." Ladbrokes has the film 3/1 to equal the record for most wins - currently 11 - held by "Titanic," "Ben-Hur" and "Lord of the Rings: Return of the King." The odds for "La La Land" to beat the record for most wins is 10/1.
Alex, 31, of London, who did not want to give his surname, said he'd backed "La La Land" to win best picture in early December at 4/5.
"I also backed Emma Stone to win best actress at 7/4," he said. "Unfortunately, I was restricted to only 70 pounds ($87) on the latter.
"I was tempted to back Denzel Washington for best actor but decided that would be my emotions making the bet. I try to keep my own feelings on the film well away from my actual bet."
Reuters
Sat Feb 18 2017
Casey Affleck had been the favorite to win the best actor statue for several months but his odds tightened as a flood of money flowed to Denzel Washington. AP Photo / File
Mesyuarat Khas WEF di Arab Saudi, PM Anwar & Pemimpin Dunia
Dunia sedang diasak dengan pelbagai masalah dan ramai yang bertanya; apa hala tuju dan ‘Wawasan Baharu’ dunia? Ikuti langsung Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Presiden Rwanda, Paul Kagame, Menteri Ekonomi Arab Saudi, Faisal Alibrahim berkongsi pentas di Mesyuarat Khas WEF berlangsung di Riyadh.
#AWANInews #SpecialMeeting24
#AWANInews #SpecialMeeting24
Landskap pelancongan Labuan alami peremajaan untuk tingkat daya tarikan
Sektor pelancongan merupakan pemacu ekonomi utama dan Jabatan Wilayah Persekutuan (JWP) komited untuk mengukuhkannya.
Nahas helikopter Lumut: Khidmat kaunseling diteruskan bergantung keperluan - Noraini
Hasil pemerhatian mendapati waris mangsa masih bersedih, namun kuat semangat untuk menerima kejadian yang menimpa ahli keluarga mereka.
TH tanggung lebih RM350 juta kos tunai haji tahun ini
Lembaga Tabung Haji menanggung lebih RM350 juta membabitkan kos menunaikan haji menerusi Bantuan Kewangan Haji pada tahun ini.
Mesyuarat Khas WEF, Perdana Menteri dan Pemimpin Dunia
Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim akan menyampaikan ucapan dalam Sidang Plenari Pembukaan Mesyuarat Khas World Economic Forum (WEF) di Arab Saudi. Ikuti analisis menyeluruh bersama Penganalisis Ekonomi, Fithra Faisal Hastiadi; Ketua Pengarang Astro AWANI, @AshwadIsmail; dan Pengarang Niaga AWANI, @NajibAroff #BuletinAWANIKhas
Hubungan bilateral ASEAN tetap kukuh walaupun mungkin ada perbezaan- Anwar Ibrahim
Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim berkata negara tiada masalah menjalin hubungan dengan anggota ASEAN sebagai satu kumpulan walaupun mungkin terdapat perbezaan. Beliau berkata demikian ketika bercakap di World Economic Forum pada Ahad.
Amang seksual: Inspektor polis akan ditahan kerja
Pegawai polis berpangkat inspektor yang ditahan selepas disyaki melakukan amang seksual fizikal terhadap seorang remaja dikenakan tindakan tahan kerja.
Pelaburan dari negara luar, negara harus menyahut cabaran baharu-Anwar Ibrahim
Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yang bercakap di World Economic Forum pada Ahad mengakui bahawa dengan pelaburan daripada negara-negara luar, pelbagai cabaran yang baharu Kerajaan Malaysia harus sahut.
Sultan Terengganu kurnia darjah kebesaran kepada 104 individu
Sultan Terengganu berkenan mengurniakan Bintang-bintang Darjah Kebesaran Negeri Terengganu Darul Iman kepada 104 individu di Istana Syarqiyyah, hari ini.
WEF: Piawaian ekonomi mampan harus adil, saksama kepada negara membangun - Tengku Zafrul
Transisi ke arah ekonomi yang mampan harus dilaksanakna secara saksama dan adil, kata Menteri Perdagangam Pelaburan dan Industri Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz.