WILLEMSTAD, CURACAO (January 4, 2005)-Last summer's most successful
television series returns this week with 10 new celebrities competing on
ABC's hit reality show Dancing With The Stars. This season's famous
participants include a former Super Bowl champion, a professional
wrestling diva, a rap mogul and an Oscar winner, among others, who'll team
with professional ballroom dancers in an eight-week competition decided by
viewer voting and judges. With the latest edition of Dancing With The
Stars beginning this week, Pinnacle Sportsbook has become the first
sportsbook to open betting on who'll win ABC's celebrity dance
competition.
The largest sports betting site on the Internet, Pinnacle Sportsbook
originally opened wagering on Dancing With The Stars on December 29, one
week before Thursday's season premiere. After originally opening at 4/1 to
win the competition, WWE professional wrestler Stacy Keibler has received
the most backing from bettors and is now an overwhelming 2/1 favorite to
be crowned the "dancing queen". Pinnacle Sportsbook currently lists actress
Tia Carrere with the second best odds to win the competition at 7/1,
closely followed by fellow actress Lisa Rinna at 15/2. Famously tanned
actor George Hamilton currently stands at 9/1 to win the competition after
opening with the second best odds of 5/1 last week.
"Betting on reality series has become extremely popular with our customers
and usually provides a very accurate predictor of who will become the
eventual winner on the show," said Simon Noble of Pinnacle Sportsbook. "In
the past, our bettors have correctly backed the eventual winner of shows
like American Idol and The Apprentice. Right now our bettors clearly
believe Stacy Keibler will win Dancing With The Stars, with 27% of all
bets and 70% of all money wagered being placed on the professional
wrestler."
Despite having some dance training and being married to a choreographer,
Pinnacle Sportsbook lists former "boy band" star Drew Lachey at only 9/1 to
win Dancing With The Stars. Television journalist Giselle Fernandez may
have a famous Mexican flamenco dancer as her father, but the odds are
still against her as she's a mere 10/1 to win the competition. Rap mogul
Master P, a late replacement for his son Romeo, has been installed at
11/1, while Oscar winner Tatum O'Neal stands at 14/1. Unsure if his moves
on the football field will translate to the dance floor,
Pinnacle Sportsbook lists former NFL star Jerry Rice as a 19/1 long shot to
become the next celebrity dance champ. ESPN anchor Kenny Mayne opened with
the worst odds to win the contest at 15/1 and is now an even bigger
underdog at 24/1.
Current Odds: *All Odds Subject To Change*
ABC's Dancing With The Stars odds
| Contestant | Current Odds | Opening Odds | % Of Bets Placed |
| Stacy Keibler | 2/1 | 4/1 | 27% |
| Tia Carrere | 7/1 | 11/2 | 9% |
| Lisa Rinna | 15/2 | 6/1 | 14% |
| George Hamilton | 9/1 | 5/1 | 8% |
| Drew Lachey | 9/1 | 11/2 | 9% |
| Giselle Fernandez | 10/1 | 13/2 | 8% |
| Master P | 11/1 | 11/2 | 6% |
| Tatum O'Neal | 14/1 | 8/1 | 4% |
| Jerry Rice | 19/1 | 12/1 | 18% |
| Kenny Mayne | 24/1 | 15/1 | 4% |
Pinnacle Sportsbook will be offering betting options on Dancing With The
Stars throughout the duration of the show. For additional information,
please visit Pinnacle Sportsbook.
About Pinnacle Sportsbook
Pinnacle Sportsbook (Pinnacle Sportsbook) is the Internet's largest
sports betting site serving customers in more than 80 countries worldwide.
Founded in 1998, Pinnacle Sportsbook was the first sports book to introduce
reduced margin wagering, using a -105 pricing model that gives bettors up
to 50% better value on wagers than traditional bookmakers. With low
minimum bet requirements and the highest maximum limits on the Web,
Pinnacle Sportsbook has earned an industry leading reputation for providing
consistent value to the player, professional customer service and the
quickest payouts online. Fully licensed and regulated in Curacao and the
United Kingdom, the company offers a secure environment for sports
betting, racing and casino gaming.