Irish bookmaker Paddy Power pays out on Barack Obama victory

Say Mitt Romney gave it a good shot but has no chance of winning

JAMES O'SHEA,

IrishCentral Staff Writer

Published Monday, November 5, 2012, 7:47 AM

Updated Monday, November 5, 2012, 3:07 PM

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According to Paddy Power Barack Obama has already won the 2012 Presidential Elections

Photo by Google Images

The election may be on a knife edge but Irish bookmaker Paddy Power has called it for Barack Obama.

A spokeswoman agreed they were “sticking their necks” out but said: "Romney gave it a good shot and is doing well in the popular vote, but we suspect he's had his moment in the sun and is likely to be remembered more for his legendary gaffes than presidential potential.

"The overall betting trend has shown one way traffic for Obama and punters seem to have called it 100% correct."

The bookmakers still say they risk paying out about $500,000 if Romney wins but betting has been "one-way traffic" for Mr Obama according to the bookmakers, with 75 per cent of money going on Barack Obama.

Obama’s odds are currently 2/9 meaning you would have to put down 9 dollars to win 2 while Romney is 11/5 meaning you would put five dollars down to win 11.

Nster.com

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lokionline | Nov 06, 2012, 05:53 PM EST

I just called my mother and told her "Paddy Power is paying out on an Obama win" she immediately went "Ohhh!?". You tell any Irish person that and they know what it means.

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longislander1940 | Nov 05, 2012, 07:33 PM EST

Paddy Powers stay in your country. You do not live here and we do not want your type of government pushed on us.

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seanfer7 | Nov 05, 2012, 12:44 PM EST

Any of you pundits think Mitt will win. I'll take you bet.

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katiemac | Nov 05, 2012, 12:11 PM EST

Won't he feel the fool when he realizes he could have kept all that cash?

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Shug | Nov 05, 2012, 11:16 AM EST

Romney has no chance. Paddy Power would never pay out unless the result was a dead cert.

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crny925 | Nov 05, 2012, 10:42 AM EST

Paddy Power should stick to the Irish elections; they are going to take a beating on this one. Obama is going to be looking for a job come January!

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Murph46 | Nov 05, 2012, 10:31 AM EST

Didn't Paddy Power take the over in the Titanic being unsinkable?

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katieherk | Nov 05, 2012, 10:16 AM EST

Please, God, that the bookie is wrong or we're gone as a civilized country.

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EamonnDublin | Nov 05, 2012, 09:49 AM EST

I could say a lot, but I will stick to just one point. In today's "Irish Times" newspaper, the notice by Paddy Power's about this particular bet shows a photo of Obama, with the caption "SORRY ROMNEY - YOU'RE NOT BLACK OR COOL" and it goes on to say they are paying out early on an Obama victory. Now, if the notice were to say "SORRY OBAMA - YOU'RE NOT WHITE OR COOL", I have no doubt but that it would be pilloried as "RACIST". Why the different treatment? In fact, I have no doubt but that the latter notice would not get past the first glance by the Irish Times editorial department. I have just now called the Editor's office of the "Irish Times" and I have asked that they contact me to let me have their comments. Éamonn, Dublin, Ireland.

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