Sportsbook.com releases Miss Universe Odds

New York, NY (May 24, 2005) – Sportsbook.com has released odds on who will win the Miss Universe competition, which will be televised live by NBC on May 30 from Bangkok, Thailand. Eight of the top ten favorites according to odds makers come from the Caribbean and the Americas, led by Renata Sone from the Dominican Republic and Cynthia Olavarria from Puerto Rico, both listed at 12-1. The US delegate, Chelsea Cooley from Charlotte, North Carolina, is a 25-1 favorite.

‘The Miss Universe contest has been around for more than 50 years and continues to be one of the most watched television programs around the world. With Donald Trump getting on board the interest in the United States is going to be even greater this year,’ says Alex Czajkowski, Marketing Director, Sportsbook.com. ‘This is the perfect event for Sportsbook.com fans to wager on – it’s exciting, unpredictable and it sure is a lot of fun to watch.’

Other favorites for the crown include the representatives from Canada – Toronto’s Natalie Glebova – South Africa and Venezuela all listed at 18-1, Colombia, Peru and Norway at 20-1 and Mexico at 25-1. Australia’s delegate, home to reigning Miss Universe Jennifer Hawkins, is at 60-1 while the hometown favorite from Thailand is listed at 40-1. The least likely winner, according to odds makers is Miss Angola with odds at 250-1.

Aside from offering odds on the eventual winner, Sportsbook.com has another interest in this year’s competition. Miss Costa Rica, Johanna Fernandez, is a former employee of the online sportsbook and casino.

‘We currently have her at 50-1 to win the crown, but in our hearts of course she’s our favorite,’ added Czajkowski.

There are 81 contestants battling for the Miss Universe 2005 crown. There have been winners from 31 different countries since the event was first held in 1952. Only four nations have produced more than two Miss Universe winners – the United States (7), Puerto Rico (4), Venezuela (4) and Sweden (3). The last Miss Universe from the United States was Brooke Antoinette Mahealani Lee in 1997.

Below are odds on all 81 Miss Universe contestants. For more information, please visit www.sportsbook.com.
Miss Albania 75-1
Miss Angola 250-1
Miss Antigua and Barbuda 60-1
Miss Aruba 70-1
Miss Australia 60-1
Miss Bahamas 100-1
Miss Barbados 100-1
Miss Belgium 50-1
Miss Belize 65-1
Miss Bolivia 45-1
Miss Brazil 60-1
Miss Bulgaria 80-1
Miss Canada 18-1
Miss Chile 65-1
Miss China 75-1
Miss Colombia 20-1
Miss Costa Rica 50-1
Miss Croatia 70-1
Miss Curacao 35-1
Miss Cyprus 100-1
Miss Czech Republic 85-1
Miss Denmark 50-1
Miss Dominican Republic 12-1
Miss Ecuador 60-1
Miss Egypt 70-1
Miss El Salvador 45-1
Miss Ethiopia 100-1
Miss Finland 90-1
Miss France 100-1
Miss Georgia 100-1
Miss Germany 80-1
Miss Greece 35-1
Miss Guatemala 150-1
Miss Guyana 200-1
Miss Hungary 70-1
Miss India 40-1
Miss Indonesia 100-1
Miss Ireland 100-1
Miss Israel 60-1
Miss Italy 70-1
Miss Jamaica 125-1
Miss Japan 35-1
Miss Kenya 200-1
Miss Korea 200-1
Miss Latvia 40-1
Miss Lebanon 60-1
Miss Malaysia 150-1
Miss Mauritius 85-1
Miss Mexico 25-1
Miss Namibia 150-1
Miss Netherlands 75-1
Miss Nicaragua 100-1
Miss Nigeria 100-1
Miss Norway 20-1
Miss Panama 85-1
Miss Paraguay 85-1
Miss Peru 20-1
Miss Philippines 75-1
Miss Poland 60-1
Miss Puerto Rico 12-1
Miss Russia 75-1
Miss Serbia/Montenegro 40-1
Miss Singapore 150-1
Miss Slovakia 35-1
Miss Slovenia 100-1
Miss South Africa 18-1
Miss Spain 100-1
Miss Sri Lanka 65-1
Miss Switzerland 70-1
Miss Thailand 40-1
Miss Trinidad and Tobago 45-1
Miss Turkey 150-1
Miss Turks and Caicos 125-1
Miss Ukraine 65-1
Miss United Kingdom 100-1
Miss United States 25-1
Miss Uruguay 70-1
Miss Venezuela 18-1
Miss Vietnam 200-1
Miss Virgin Islands (US) 125-1
Miss Zambia 150-1

About Sportsbook.com
Sportsbook.com is the largest sportsbook and casino on the planet, offering numerous products including sports betting, horse racing, poker, casino and virtual games. It is the flagship brand for Sportingbet PLC, (LSE: SBT), the world’s largest publicly traded online betting, gambling and gaming company.