CASINO PLACES ODDS ON NEXT POPE

CASINO PLACES ODDS ON NEXT POPE

NEW YORK (Wireless Flash) – It’s a sure bet to offend some folks but an internet casino is offering odds on who the next pope will be. Intertops.com has just started taking bets from folks who want to gamble on the identity of the next pontiff. So far, Vatican State Secretary Angelo Sodano is the 2 to 1 favorite, followed closely by Milan’s archbishop Carlo Maria Martini, with 4 to 1 odds. On the other hand, Scottish cardinal Thomas Winning may need a miracle from God to be selected pope – he’s the 25 to 1 long shot. Although betting on the next pope may seem an ungodly mess to you – especially a few days before Easter – the folks at Intertops doubt they’ll have hell to pay. A company spokesman insists the bet isn’t in bad taste because it only predicts who the next pope will be, not when the current one will die. The Vatican could not be reached for a comment.

Wed 04-11-01