October 10, 2019

DraftKings Sportsbook Director Gives A Big Picture Look At Oscars Betting

From Bill GelmanUpdated on February 22, 2019
Academy awards weekend is here. And if you’re in New Jersey, it means there’s still time to get from the Oscars gambling action.
DraftKings Sportsbook is offering odds on all 24 categories. Johnny Avello, director of sportsbook operations for DraftKings, stated he is very happy the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement gave the green light, especially in the initial year of legal NJ sports betting.
“I didn’t actually count it out because I saw the way aggressive [the gaming enforcement board] was Super Bowl props,” he said.
DraftKings initially posted odds for all 24 classes, but due to a technical glitch, only Best Picture chances appeared for the first week or so.
That problem has been resolved. Betting will remain open all the way up through showtime, but no longer bets will be accepted after 8 p.m. EST on Sunday, Feb. 24.
Concerning the decision to offer all 24 categories, it’s simple:
“If you’re going to do it, you do it directly,” Avello said. “All these are 24 big awards”
DraftKings Oscars betting gets creative
Besides moneylines on all types, DraftKings is shooting an outside-the-box strategy by offering over/under lines to the number of Oscars all the finest Picture nominees will triumph.
Roma, the heavy favorite to win Best Picture in -225, has an over/under of 3.5. If you think the film will walk away with four or more awards, you can bet the over at -167.
However, the creativity also comes in the shape of odds promotes. As of Friday afternoon, DraftKings had two offers:
Black Panther, BlacKkKlansman, and Bohemian Rhapsody all to acquire at least one award (was paying +100, currently paying +120)
Roma to win Best Picture, Rami Malek to win Best Actor and Glenn Close to win Best Actress (was paying -141, currently paying -110)
And of course, new players receive a 100:1 odds boost if they can correctly decide on the finest Picture winner. That welcome bonus endings after Sunday’s show.
Oscars betting breakdown from DraftKings
With this being the very first year legal Oscars betting is being offered everywhere — including Nevada — most are probably wondering are wagers coming beyond the big six:
Best Picture
Finest Manager Best Actor
Finest Actress
Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actress
As of Wednesday, DraftKings didn’t release certain numbers on bet amounts, but the company did share a percentage breakdown by class.