DraftKings Sportsbook Director Gives A Big Picture Appearance 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 in the Oscars betting action.
DraftKings Sportsbook is offering odds on all 24 classes. Johnny Avello, director of sportsbook surgeries 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 really count it out because I saw the way competitive [the gaming board] was with Super Bowl props,” he said.
DraftKings initially posted chances for all 24 categories, but because of a technical glitch, just Best Picture chances appeared for the first week or so.
That problem has since been resolved. Betting will remain open all the way 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 classes, it’s simple:
“If you are planning to do it, then you do it directly,” Avello said. “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 amount of Oscars each of the Best Picture nominees will triumph.
Roma, the heavy favorite to win Best Picture at -225, has an over/under of 3.5. If you feel the movie will walk away with four or more awards, you can bet that the more than at -167.
But the creativity also comes in the shape of odds boosts. At Friday afternoon, DraftKings had two offers:
Black Panther, BlacKkKlansman, and Bohemian Rhapsody all to win 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 needless to say, new players get a 100:1 odds boost if they can correctly decide on the finest Picture winner. That welcome bonus ends following Sunday’s show.
Oscars betting breakdown from DraftKings
With this being the very first year lawful Oscars gambling has been offered everywhere — including Nevada — many are likely wondering are wagers coming in beyond the large six:
Best Picture
Best Manager Finest Actor
Best Actress
Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actress
As of Wednesday, DraftKings did not release certain numbers on wager amounts, but the business failed to share a percent breakdown by class.