Choosing next pope no sacred ground for bettors
ROME—Next week’s conclave to elect the successor to Pope Francis is a solemn affair steeped in centuries-old traditions.
But far from the Sistine Chapel where cloistered cardinals will cast votes, people are placing bets on who will be the next leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.
From cash bets on websites, to online games modeled after fantasy football leagues and casual wagers among friends and families, the popularity of guessing and gambling on the future of the papacy is increasing worldwide, experts and participants say.
It’s even topped the Europa League soccer tournament and Formula One drivers’ championship, said Sam Eaton, Britain’s manager for Oddschecker, a leading online platform analyzing odds across sports, events and other betting markets.
“There’s a huge level of interest globally,” he said. “I don’t think we’ve had a market like this where we’ve had so many countries interested in seeing odds.”
Pope bets
Hundreds of thousands of people from some 140 countries have visited Oddschecker to review each cardinal’s chances of becoming the next pope, said Eaton, who noted special eagerness in the United Kingdom, Ireland and the United States.
Betting on elections, papal conclaves and all manner of global events is almost a tradition of its own in the United Kingdom. But such betting is not legal in the United States.
Eaton noted, however, that in the unregulated, illegal space, one of the biggest sites has $10 million wagered so far in pope bets.
He said in the United Kingdom, about 30,000 pounds (almost $40,000) have been wagered as of this week with one leading betting platform.
It’s a far cry from the 1.2 million pounds on singing contest Eurovision but still noteworthy as a trend.
“Since April 21 (Pope Francis’ death), we’ve taken thousands of bets, and it’s the busiest of all our nonsports betting markets,” said Lee Phelps, a spokesperson for William Hill, one of the United Kingdom’s biggest bookmakers.
In Italy, betting on the papal election—and all religious events—is forbidden.
‘Nice guy’ Tagle
But some people in Rome are making friendly, informal wagers—the equivalent of $20 on a favorite cardinal, with the loser pledging to host a dinner or buy a pizza night out.
As many as 60,000 people are turning to an online game called Fantapapa, or Fantasy Pope, which mimics popular fantasy football and soccer leagues.
Each bettor chooses 11 cardinals—as if for a soccer team—whom they believe have the best shot at becoming the next pontiff.
They also draft the top contender, or captain—with Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin the No. 1 choice, closely followed by Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle.
Italian student Federico La Rocca, 23, said he chose Tagle because “he looks like a nice guy and fun person.”
What’s the jackpot in this game?
“Eternal glory,” joked Fantapapa game developer Mauro Vanetti, who said he and his cofounder are against gambling but wanted to create something fun ahead of the conclave which begins on Wednesday.
