Multitudes wager on conclave outcomes in fictional 'Pope simulations' games
Revised Article:
Get ready for some papal action, y'all! The upcoming conclave to elect the new Pope is just around the corner, and folks from all corners of the globe are placing their bets on who'll be sitting Pretty in the Vatican.
Whether it's cash wagers on betting websites or online games modeled after fantasy football leagues, the gamble on who'll be the next head honcho of the Catholic Church has hit a record high, experts claim. It's even stealing the spotlight from the Europa League soccer tournament and the Formula One drivers' championship, according to Sam Eaton, UK manager for Oddschecker, an online platform scrutinizing odds across various betting markets.
So, who's leading the pack, you ask? Thousands from over 140 countries have flocked to Oddschecker to check out each cardinal's likelihood of rising to the throne. In the good ol' UK, approximately £30,000 (about $39,813 USD) has been thrown down already, and the conclave hasn't even started yet, Eaton said.
Betting on elections, papal conclaves, and all other manner of global events is a British tradition, but it's against the rules in the US, with top sports-betting companies like BetMGM refraining from offering any such bets. In the black market, however, one of the biggest platforms has a massive $10 million already staked on the pope election.
And, in Italy, betting on religious events is strictly forbidden.
In Rome, folks are making friendly, informal wagers – a $20 bet here and there on their favorite candidate, with the losing party agreeing to foot the bill for dinner or a pizza night out.
Others have picked up an online game called Fantapapa, or the Fantasy Pope, which resembles popular fantasy football and soccer leagues. More than 60,000 people are playing, each drafting 11 cardinals from their dream team, hoping they'll be the ones to lead the flock. They also select their top pick, or captain, just as in online wagers, and the choices are telling: Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle top the list.
"It's a really fun game to play with friends and have a chuckle," Italian student Federico La Rocca, 23, said. "At first, my dad sent it to me as a joke, but now that the conclave is upon us, I figured I'd give it a go."
La Rocca plumped for Tagle because "he seems like a nice guy and a real hoot."
The game's points system varies, but the jackpot?
"Eternal glory," said Mauro.
Enrichment Data:While betting on the Pope has become a global phenomenon, some key contenders for the top spot are emerging. Cardinal Pietro Parolin from Italy has been consistently ranked as the front-runner, with odds ranging from +225 to +250[1][2]. Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle closely follows with odds of +300[1]. Other notable contenders include Matteo Zuppi and Peter Turkson, among others considered plausible candidates [1][4]. The process of electing the Pope involves the cardinals gathering in a conclave to vote, requiring a two-thirds majority for an election. This ancient ritual now fuses with modern betting markets, symbolizing broader interest in predicting major events.
- Despite the prohibition on betting in the US, worldwide betting on the papal conclave has reached unprecedented levels, overshadowing even high-profile sports events like the Europa League soccer tournament and the Formula One drivers' championship.
- The UK has emerged as a hotspot for betting on the conclave, with £30,000 already wagered, according to Sam Eaton, UK manager for Oddschecker, a platform scrutinizing odds across various betting markets.
- Ironically, while betting on the papacy is forbidden in Italy, Italians are actively participating in online games like Fantapapa, a fantasy-style game similar to popular soccer and football leagues, where over 60,000 people are drafting their dream teams.
- The casino-and-gambling industry, although refraining from offering papal conclave bets in the US, still has a significant stake in worldwide sports-betting, with top companies like BetMGM observing from the sidelines.
- In the black market, a staggering $10 million has been staked on the pope election, while in Rome, friendly, informal wagers are being made among locals, with the losing party agreeing to foot the bill for dinner or a pizza night out.
