As instability rages on the streets of America, the online sportsbooks have been fairly stable in their current 2020 election odds.
No line has moved much in several days, with presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden holding a small lead on the boards over Donald Trump and Kamala Harris still the favorite to be the Democratic Vice Presidential candidate.
The left is still expected to keep the House, the right is still expected to keep the Senate, and everything else is more or less stagnating. It’s the calm after one storm and before another.
Indeed, the only new Vegas election odds we’ve seen of late are available at BetOnline, and they’re political props about whether or not certain prominent politicians will give Creepy Joe their endorsements:
Will Condoleezza Rice Endorse Joe Biden For President?
- No -275
- Yes +185
Will Dick Cheney Endorse Joe Biden For President?
- No -800
- Yes +425
Will Mitt Romney Endorse Joe Biden For President?
- Yes -155
- No +115
Boring, right?
There was recently some talk that George W. Bush would endorse Biden, which would be far more interesting in the political sphere, but there aren’t any odds posted for that contingency.
Why this is the case, we’re not really sure, as we think it would get a lot of action on both sides, given how vocal the Bushes have been against the current GOP torch-bearer.
To be honest, we must express some disappointment in the current lack of creative odds at election betting sites.
The political environment is ripe for a host of politicized pop culture odds, particularly given yesterday’s news that HBO Max is pulling Gone With The Wind from its streaming service.
Per an HBO spokesperson on the “problematic” film:
“These depictions are certainly counter to WarnerMedia’s values, so when we return the film to HBO Max, it will return with a discussion of its historical context and a denouncement of those very depictions…”
Of course, that’s not the only piece of media being banned.
Television show Little Britain has been pulled from streaming services over its depictions of “blackface” (despite being parodies and not criticisms), and even The Simpsons has pulled an episode from their catalog.
The book burnings are just getting started, and sportsbooks (perhaps the only books that can’t be burned) should capitalize.
These recent events have opened the door for oddsmakers to present a host of books, shows, and movies that will be the next media properties to be censored, altered, amended, or banned. That would certainly get some attention, and it would be a low-risk move for every offshore operator.
Some of our suggestions to include on such a betting board would be the following, because it’s only a matter of time:
- Brave New World (1931)
- Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949)
- The Saint (1962-1969)
- Monty Python’s Flying Circus (1969-1974)
- All in the Family (1971-1979)
- Married… with Children (1987-1997)
- South Park (1997-present)
- Family Guy (1999-present)
- The Boondocks (2005-2014)
Frankly, the list of popular media that could be on the chopping block in the near future is almost infinitely long, which would give Vegas election betting sites some leverage and the ability to compete compellingly on the odds and lines offered.
Perhaps the sportsbooks don’t want to offend anyone, but when everything is offensive, who cares?
C’mon, books, let’s see some edge on your boards!