UK Pokernews Exclusive - Who you've been betting on at the WSOP with PaddyPower

Betting on the outcome of poker events has gone from a pure novelty market to a serious betting field that is really capturing punters imaginations. Betting on the World Series of Poker is now big business, with top sportsbook Paddy Power offering 14 separate markets on this year's event. We decided to have a word with our good friends at Paddy Power to see just exactly who you have been betting on this year.

We chatted with Noel Hayes, Head of Operations at Paddy Power Poker. "Since Neil Channing famously won a bet on himself to win the Paddy Power Irish Open this year, betting on poker has been big business. Casual punters are having bets to make the series a little more interesting and plenty of players have been backing themselves this year".

There are no longer any outright winner markets for the WSOP main event, because the payouts would be ridiculous and the punters know what a long shot it is. The 'to make the final table market' is the obvious replacement for this and is by far and wide the most popular WSOP market, with literally hundreds of runners. It will come as very little surprise that Phil Ivey is the most heavily backed, thus once again affirming his status as being universally considered the best in the World.

Phil Hellmuth is right behind him, as are Gus Hansen and Allen Cunningham, who both had great runs in recent WSOP Main Events. One of the surprisingly most backed players just below them is Kathy Liebert, who is having a great WSOP so far and has cashed 5 times. Bracelet winners Daniel Negreanu and Vanessa Selbst are also two of the form players this year who have been heavily backed. "After that we get a lot of smaller bets on local favourites" Hayes tells us "Players like Jen Mason from the UK and Lucy Rokach have their fair share of backers, and rightly so".

After the final table market, there is a lot of interest in the 'last longer' markets between groups of pros. The Irish Market is very popular with its obvious affiliation with Paddy Power "The Irish poker community is very small and close, so this market has attracted lots of small bets from the players that know each other. Padraig Parkinson and Andy Black have obviously attracted lots of bets, as has John O'Shea who is currently at the 6 handed final table. After that its lots of smaller, 20 quid types bets from players on their friends".

Lots of Irish players have also been backed in the winner market for the $10,000 PLO Championship following a great year for the Irish in that event last year. "The Devilfish is still the most backed in that event as usual, but amazingly there are still no bets on Phil Galfond after his $5000 PLO win – maybe we should shorten the odds on that one now I think of it".

"One market that has been really good business for us is the 'Top Internet Pro' market with players like Phil Galfond, Thomas Dwan, Sorel Mizzi etc. It's been hard to determine who is the favourite in that market, which is at really tight odds between 8:1 and 11:1. We think that this market has generated a lot of interest and debate on the internet forums which is why it's so popular".

Although it's hard to realistically predict the outcome of any one poker tournament, the same cannot be said for the $50,000 HORSE event. "Unlike the main event, we have a very good idea of who will be playing this and who the favourite is. Barry Greenstein is the current favourite following his Razz bracelet, Phil Ivey is also backed heavily as is Mike Matusow who is on form with a bracelet of his own this year. Even though he is not regarded as a mixed games player, a lot of money has been wagered on Phil Hellmuth for this one".

There is also the 'Age of the Winner' market this time round, one which yours truly has had a little flutter on. Noel confirmed what I thought when I put my money where my mouth is "21-25 and 26-30 are the two most heavily backed markets this year for good reason, this year seems like the maturing year of the internet generation and this is where the money has gone this year"

There is still time for you to have a flutter yourself at Paddy Power.

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