Sportsbook.com Posts Oscar Odds

HOLLYWOOD – (PRESS RELEASE) -- Sportsbook.com is the first company to offer odds on what movie will take home the 78th Oscar for Best Picture at the Academy Awards. According to research conducted by the odds makers, Cinderella Man is the early favorite with odds set at 6-1.

"The Academy Awards is the most highly bet on event outside of the sports world and captivates millions of movie fans around the world. Everybody loves to bet on the Oscars," says Alex Czajkowski, marketing director, Sportsbook.com. "Every year people join office pools and bet on the awards with their friends and coworkers - we're offering another venue for fans to actively participate in one of the most highly watched programs of the year."

Other contenders for the Best Picture Oscar include two films featuring George Clooney - Syriana (8-1), a political thriller based on the global oil industry and Good Night and Good Luck (10-1). Memoirs of a Geisha (10-1), the screen adaptation of Arthur Golden's bestselling novel, Steven Spielberg's Munich (12-1), the story of the assassination of Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics and North Country (13-1) round out the top of the list. Several movies have recently lost some of their buzz, including Jarhead (50-1) which has met with mixed reviews from critics.

Sportsbook.com based its odds on research conducted with various entertainment insiders. In the near future, odds will also be made available on the other major categories, including Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Director.

"More movies may be added and the odds will certainly be affected by future betting patterns. Especially as some of the yet-to-be released movies are finally out and critics have a better sense of whether those movies are legitimate contenders," added Peter Childs, Odds Maker, Sportsbook.com.