Bet Chicago Logo
  • NFL6AxA8ZrrIkUCay6Iekgs6k

    NFL news, odds, lines and wagering analysis

  • College FootballbW88wLUtXMeaeEOikGsU4

    College Football Betting

  • NBA6u9BKVTY2ckW2iOMgUiwyc

    NBA Betting Lines, Odds, Spreads and Wagering Analysis from BetChicago

  • NCAA BBgNg3S92MjCKu0CAOYwiWg

    NCAA Basketball Betting Lines, Odds, Spreads and Analysis

    • Home
    • News
    • Schedule
    • Futures
    • Standings
  • Podcasts2178mk1KlAoY7g2jH8KrMz

    Football betting podcasts

  • MLB5nf5uAz2yAo6IMAsckq8Qa

    MLB Betting Lines, Odds and Wagering and Fantasy Analysis

    • Home
    • News
    • Scoreboard
    • Schedule
    • Standings
    • Odds
  • Golf7A0eylzER2uqQY2kcQqyWS

    Golf Betting

    • Home
    • News
    • Leaderboard
    • Schedule
    • World Rankings
    • Odds
  • ...
    • Sports Betting Industry News5bPejKTlZeuEsG42oyeCGe

      Sports Betting Industry News

    • Betting Guides4NyqzWkxBQXcG58JmZBGxp

      Sports betting glossaries, tutorials on advanced metrics and more

    • Soccer7d0trXzol2uICOEoIqs0Ea

      Soccer Betting News

    • NASCAR2nwagNnke8E0Q0kce2UI2M

      NASCAR Betting News, Information and Insight

    • Horse Racing1cG3403troWKYKqu8yAMuE

      Horse Racing News, Odds and Picks

    • UFC2FbKCPn5duoQeCMGMYgKEo

      UFC and MMA Betting

    • BoxingO0rvFyckMMMiG6eYKGaOc

      BetChicago Boxing Coverage

    • NHLrsDGYfODbqOaqYKaww4iq

      NHL Betting Lines, Odds and Analysis

    • Politics and election oddsnSyqwIVtZNj6DuXjn0SLb

      Odds and betting information for U.S. elections

    • Entertainment4gzKSgVG64EI2yEU2CYGOY

      Entertainment Betting Lines, Odds and Analysis

    • Fantasy Football7BTPbPIdu8iaYiiE46IQok

      Fantasy Football Analysis

    • Tennis4EpTm7Ht8sMK4g8CKwQCe0

      Tennis Odds and Betting Analysis

    • Home1GbgAvLoZC4E44cMUg2YMe

      BetChicago - Illinois | Sports Betting News, Odds, Lines, & Contests

Entertainment

Oscars action surprising bookmaker in first year taking bets

Oscars action surprising bookmaker in first year taking bets

DraftKings sportsbook director and long-time Las Vegas veteran Johnny Avello has been surprised by the reaction to first-time Oscars betting.

Jon Gold
Staff Writer
BetChicago
//images.ctfassets.net/p0ykbbcw3bn6/4HQKXlLSGsM06uCkMe4MyQ/31cf141c83e0d8fcf10e12d237364033/image.jpg
3bOqnDk2Q0wQeSIyQcWkIW
@ByJonGold
Jon Gold has been a sportswriter for more than a decade, with stints at the Arizona Daily Star, LA Daily News and more. He has also been a regular contributor to ESPN.com, CBS Sports, Billboard, Sports Illustrated. He lives in New York with his wife and two cats, Forest Whitaker and Danny Bonaduce.
On the eve of the 91st Academy Awards, DraftKings sportsbook director Johnny Avello is seeing a ton of action on Oscars underdogs. "I was surprised at the amount of action we're getting, and surprised where the action is," Avello said. "There's a lot on the underdogs. If you're gonna play you might as well take a shot at the 15- or 20-to-1s. No reason why underdogs can't win here. I don't blame the bettor for taking a chance." As of Wednesday, [A Star Is Born was drawing a huge portion](http://www.betchicago.com/a-star-is-born-oscars-betting-draftkings) of the DraftKings handle, and Avello credits that to the movie's quality and popularity. __Play along__: [Oscars pick 'em contest](https://betchicago.chalkline.com/games/2019-academy-awards) <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSbzyEJ8X9E" class="embedly-card" data-card-width="100%" data-card-controls="0">Embedded content: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSbzyEJ8X9E</a> Bettors have stayed away from heavy favorites like Glenn Close (The Wife, -715) for Best Actress and Rami Malek (Bohemian Rhapsody, -835) for Best Actor, Avello said, and loaded up on Lady Gaga (+1400) and Bradley Cooper (+1700). "People who've seen these movies feel that's one of the better movies," Avello said. "Lady Gaga did such a good job and she was overlooked." Avello, who has seen all of the Oscars entrants, is a believer in A Star Is Born, even if Roma has gotten major pre-Oscars buzz. "Roma is not as good, in any way possible, as A Star Is Born," he said. "Cinematography, yeah, pretty good. Director-wise? OK. But A Star Is Born is a much more entertaining movie. If you've seen them all, your choice is not going to be Roma." Will Oscars voters feel the same way? One thing Avello points out is there are so many more of them than the other awards, an Oscars surprise isn't a shock. "For the Golden Globes, the Hollywood foreign press, there are only about 95 voters, and some in the other organizations there are even fewer - The Academy Awards has 6,000 voters," Avello said. "There may be a whole different opinion that forms. Handicapping the Academy, it's about what are they basing their opinion on? "I don't know what the overall 6,000 voters are thinking, but I understand what the bettor is thinking. He's saying Roma is not the best movie." Avello said he's surprised how much action is coming in on Best Picture, with Best Actress and Best Actor coming in next. He added that DraftKings will put out an update on Sunday about where the action fell. The action throughout the week hasn't changed Avello's ideas about who'll win, though they will inform his oddsmaking in the future. "It doesn't change my opinion on what I beleive may happen," he said. "Bettors have habits and I understand and will undertand why they go that way. Before betting started, I would not have told you I thought A Star Is Born or Lady Gaga would receive that action. Now that it has, I understand why. I understand where people are betting from and what the odds are. That all makes sense to me." __Game lobby:__ [Find our free contests here](https://betchicago.chalkline.com/)
2019-02-23T23:11:48.329Z2019-02-23T17:10-06:00
  • Oscars action surprising bookmaker in first year taking bets

    • The story of Cheryl White, the first black female jockey in U.S. horse racing history

    • The marvelous comeback story of jockey David Cohen

    • College football advanced stats glossary: How to use today's metrics in sports betting

    • The Legend of Silky Sullivan, the greatest come-from-behind horse in racing history

    • No resolution in sight for Sammy Sosa's fractured relationship with Cubs

    • Odds to win a golf major in 2020: Rickie Fowler, Tiger Woods each 5/1

    • AFC weather report: Philip Rivers' cold-weather stats cast interesting light on Patriots vs. Chargers

    • NBA Finals betting history: Can Raptors defy odds vs. heavily favored Warriors?

    • MLB division odds, 2020 season win totals: White Sox tick up with transformative offseason

    • Illinois Sports Betting

    • With 24-team playoff on horizon, NHL futures odds and series prices posted on betting boards

    • 20 questions during quarantine with Rufus Peabody: Pro bettor talks Coronavirus data, modeling the new home field and a bad beat that lasted two weeks

    • 2020 college football national championship odds: Nebraska still swimming with big boys

    • Rickie Fowler win proves point but his 2019 major championship futures lack value

    • NASCAR at Martinsville odds, key stats, bets to consider: Kyle Busch on upset alert despite dominance at track

    • How ESPN's FPI win-loss simulations compare to betting win totals for college football's worst teams

    • Fantasy football keeper leagues: Quarterbacks to hang on to, others to drop

    • Post-draft glance at betting odds indicate expectations high for Burrow, tempered for Tua

    • How sportsbooks are adjusting to new NASCAR rule which can disqualify drivers on the spot

    • 20 questions during quarantine with sports betting attorney Daniel Wallach

    • How Nick Foles-to-Jacksonville changes the Jaguars fantasy fortunes

    • Fantasy Football: Is a huge shift in store at wide receiver in 2019?

    • Odds Shopping: Finding the best World Series odds post-Harper signing

    • How great performances at NFL Combine have translated into rookie fantasy seasons

    • Odds Shopping: Finding best NHL Stanley Cup title odds post-trade deadline

    • Oscars action surprising bookmaker in first year taking bets

    • "A Star Is Born" drawing major action on DraftKings as Oscars betting heats up

    • Odds Shopping: Finding the best World Series odds post-Machado signing

    • Fantasy Football 2019 PPR Keeper Rankings: Gurley on top but Barkley lurking

    • Odds Shopping: Finding each team's best NBA championship odds entering the second half

    • Oddsmaker talks Oscars betting history as entertainment gambling grows

    • Bettors are all over new-look 76ers, but players say they're still figuring each other out

    • Fantasy Forecast: Are we set for a youth movement at quarterback in 2019?

    • Odds Shopping: Finding the best World Series odds before spring training

    • Odds Shopping: Finding the best Super Bowl LIV futures at various sportsbooks

    • Meadowlands FanDuel Sportsbook draws biggest-ever crowd for first Super Bowl

    • Super Bowl 53 commercial props: Five to look out for

    • College basketball betting lines, odds, predictions: Indiana looks to reverse slide as big dog at Michigan State

    • Vegas bookmakers look back at Bears' Super Bowl XX run -- and the prop that changed sports betting

    • NHL Odds Shopping: Islanders on the move in hunt for Stanley Cup title

    • Saints futures ticket pays off big for Philadelphia bettor -- and for PropSwap

    • Fantasy football start 'em sit 'em: Michel seeking second straight huge start

    • Warriors at Clippers betting lines, odds, trends: DeMarcus Cousins set for Golden State debut

    • Odds Shopping: Finding the best Super Bowl 53 futures at various sportsbooks (conference championship edition)

    • Five prop bets to consider for Saints vs. Eagles divisional playoff matchup

      • 2020 NFL Draft odds 2X95amlzTbATaKdnglGQT6

        2010 NFL Draft odds and betting information

      • 2020 NFL Playoffs odds, betting lines, analysis and insight19Cr8560G0TF5lcqygWyHU

        2020 NFL Playoff betting information and analysis

      • 2020 Oscars betting5oZGalUuNj4TmAasr1svad

        Betting odds, analysis and picks for the 2020 Oscars

      • 2020 World Series odds2kwzw7IsM1mk10hOsgjC1D

        2020 World Series odds

      • Chicago Bears14mPPILYpyg6sOWoQyKyuU

        Chicago Bears Betting

      • Chicago Bulls6NqSjORDhKSioMcWkk2gWg

        Bulls Betting Lines, Odds, Spreads and Wagering Information

      • 2019-20 college football bowl game odds, betting lines, picks3cxNagvYEMQmYugW0gWsmk

        2019-20 college football bowl game odds, betting lines, picks

      • Coronavirus' impact on sports betting3VmLnMFDo8ZCbc3XTTV5RG

        How the coronavirus is affecting the sports betting industry

      • Cubs4W58vIh9IkG6KiMEmOKcwe

        Chicago Cubs odds, lines and betting analysis

      • NBA 2019-20 season betting odds and analysislwSuFryrsiE8ca7XOOfEf

        NBA betting odds, lines and insight for the 2019-20 season

      • Fantasy football news, analysis and advice3YVUyLIiMgcQ88eeoMemaQ

        Fantasy football news, cheat sheets, analysis, and advise

      • Notre Dame Football1mSZTkIc5Gsy68ewWgImaO

        Notre Dame Odds and Betting

      • Super Bowl 54 odds, betting lines, props6hYwYjDkSZnKiRXD8P1XKk

        Super Bowl 54 odds, betting lines, props

      • Super Bowl 55 odds, betting lines, props RpsZWLyCVZ5JyaiDP3l9g

        Super Bowl 55 odds, betting lines, props

      • XFL betting odds, news and analysis3Oso75V3Q44gp8Bxcwiw13

        Betting lines and futures odds for the XFL

      Illinois Sports Betting News, Information and Insight
      Chicago sports betting news, odds and analysis
      <div><div><h3>Download the BetChicago app</h3><p>The latest version of the BetChicago app is available for download, and once you take that step, you’ll be a tap away from the most important news driving the betting market, research and analysis from our editorial team and a line into the knowledge and opinion of some of the country’s biggest and best oddsmakers. </p><p>You’ll also get the up-to-date futures odds, point spreads, moneylines and totals, as well as scores, schedules, matchups and more. </p><p>The app gives you quick access to our <a href="https://betchicago.chalkline.com/">free-to-play contests</a> that offer the chance to win cash and other great prizes. </p><p>Also, <a href="https://www.betchicago.com/userregistration">create a BetChicago account</a> to receive email updates and be able to customize notifications, save stories, select your favorite teams and players and more. Download the BetChicago app at<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/betchicago/id1404462108?mt=8"> iTunes</a> or <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.betchicago.app&hl=en_UShttps://itunes.apple.com/us/app/betchicago/id1404462108?mt=8">Google Play</a> today.</p></div></div>
      <div><p>As legalized sports betting expands, so too are the wagering options available to gamblers. Sportsbooks are getting more and more creative in what they’re posting on their oddsboards. While traditional pre-event bets – such as point spreads, moneylines and totals – remain popular, live betting is become a larger part of the sports betting experience.  Also, prop bets aren’t just for the Super Bowl anymore. In fact, there are props to wager on for practically any sporting event around the world.</p><p>Whether it’s on the <a href="https://www.betchicago.com/nfl-betting">NFL</a>, <a href="https://www.betchicago.com/college-football-betting">college football</a>, <a href="https://www.betchicago.com/mlb-betting/home">MLB</a>, <a href="https://www.betchicago.com/nba-betting">NBA</a>, <a href="https://www.betchicago.com/ncaa-basketball-betting">NCAA basketball</a>, <a href="https://www.betchicago.com/nhl-betting">NHL</a>, <a href="https://www.betchicago.com/soccer-betting">soccer</a>, <a href="https://www.betchicago.com/nascar-betting">NASCAR</a>, <a href="https://www.betchicago.com/ufc-betting">UFC</a>, <a href="https://www.betchicago.com/boxing">boxing</a>, <a href="https://www.betchicago.com/horse-racing-odds">horse racing</a>, <a href="https://www.betchicago.com/tennis-odds">tennis</a>, entertainment or eSports, it’s difficult to win long term betting on sports. That’s why it’s important to read up on the news that impacts the markets, dig deep into advanced statistics and hear from oddsmakers about how and why lines are moving.</p><p>Here at BetChicago, we follow sports betting from a national and even international perspective, but we put a special emphasis on Chicago, Illinois and the Midwest region. That means, for example, if you’re interested in where the futures odds of the <a href="https://www.betchicago.com/bears-betting">Bears</a>, <a href="https://www.betchicago.com/cubs-betting-odds">Cubs</a>, <a href="https://www.betchicago.com/white-sox-betting-odds">White Sox</a>, <a href="https://www.betchicago.com/bulls-betting-odds">Bulls</a> and <a href="https://www.betchicago.com/blackhawks-betting-odds">Blackhawks</a> stand, look no further. If you want insight and analysis about the betting lines for <a href="https://www.betchicago.com/big-ten-football-betting-odds">Big Ten football</a> or <a href="https://www.betchicago.com/big-ten-college-basketball-betting-lines-odds-trends-predictions">basketball</a> or <a href="https://www.betchicago.com/notre-dame-football-odds-betting">Notre Dame</a> sports, you’re at the right place.</p></div>