Advertising

The Seattle Times Company

NWjobs | NWautos | NWhomes | NWsource | Free Classifieds | seattletimes.com

The Seattle Times

Nation & World


Our network sites seattletimes.com | Advanced

Originally published July 7, 2007 at 12:00 AM | Page modified July 7, 2007 at 2:03 AM

E-mail article     Print view

Bookmaker pays over Gore arrest

Ireland's top bookmaker, Paddy Power, paid out more than $13,500 Friday to people who bet that Al Gore would be arrested. Trouble was, the company...

DUBLIN, Ireland — Ireland's top bookmaker, Paddy Power, paid out more than $13,500 Friday to people who bet that Al Gore would be arrested. Trouble was, the company neglected to specify which one.

The former U.S. vice president and global-warming activist was rated as a 14-to-1 outsider in a list of American celebrities likely to be arrested next. On Wednesday — the day after the betting went live on Paddy Power's Web site — Gore's 24-year-old son, Al Gore III, was arrested and charged with illegally possessing marijuana and prescription drugs.

Paddy Power said it was paying out winnings to about 50 people because it had failed to identify which Gore it meant.

The bet in question listed publicity hound Paris Hilton as the favorite on 2-to-1 odds, based on her recent time in a Los Angeles jail. Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates was a distant 50 to 1.

On Friday, Paddy Power had switched its celebrity betting back solely onto Hilton's likely 2007 fortunes. She merited a 5-to-4 chance of ending up in rehab by the end of the year, while a return to jail was rated at 10 to 1. Appearing in an episode of "Prison Break" was 25 to 1, becoming Calvin Klein's new face for the perfume "Escape," 40 to 1, and releasing a cover of Elvis' "Jailhouse Rock," 66 to 1.

Copyright © 2007 The Seattle Times Company

More Nation & World headlines...

E-mail article Print view      Share:    Digg     Newsvine

advertising

Sources: Obama near decision on Afghanistan troops

Bill Clinton meets with Senate Dems on health care

FBI reassessing past look at Fort Hood suspect

D.C. sniper mastermind set to be executed Tuesday

Case against Ohio bodies suspect expands overseas

Advertising

Video

Ken Auletta talks about "Googled"
Ken Auletta talks about Google with Brier Dudley at the Seattle Central Library.

Medal of Honor
Pelosi answers questions at Swedish Medical Center
Pelosi speaks at Swedish Medical Center
"Pistol" Pete Ryan
Mourners gather at KeyArena for slain officer's memorial
Procession for slain SPD officer
Election Night: Approve R-71
Election Night: Reject R-71
Election Night: Joe Mallahan

Marketplace

nwautos

2009's most fuel-efficient sedansnew
Choosing a new sedan? Weigh the impact of your choice on your wallet and on the planet.
Post a comment

Open Houses

Find this weekend's open house listings.
Or search by location:

 
Most read
Most commented
Most e-mailed
 
 
Advertising