Will Tony Soprano Survive? Bet On It. Or Don't.

If enough people are interested in a subject, someone will invariably arrive on the scene to lay odds and book bets for the compulsive (and casual) gamblers in our midst. The Internet has naturally upped this particular ante significantly, and it seems there are those -- like bodog.com -- who are now laying odds on various aspects of Sunday's much-anticipated, much-debated finale of HBO's "The Sopranos."

You can wager, for example, on whether Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) will survive the entire hour. Ditto Paulie Walnuts (Tony Sirico) and Phil Leotardo (Frank Vincent). Of course, there is also the argument that if you've been reduced to risking your hard-earned greenbacks on whether or not fictitious mobsters make it through an hour of television without being murdered, this could well be a sign from God that your recreational gambling bent has just jumped the shark into a genuine problem. You can also bet on which mobster will be killed on Sunday first and if Silvio Dante (Steve Van Zandt) will wake up from his coma.

This is all (or at least, mostly) in good fun. But here's a question: since there are presumably those who actually know -- I mean right this minute know who is going to live or die on Sunday's episode -- isn't that the equivalent of insider trading? "Sopranos" creator David Chase could win himself some money here. So could any number of his writers and producers and HBO executives sworn to silence. Perhaps the odds layers are depending on the fact that those who are clued-in have more to lose by spilling the beans early than to gain by winning at an online "Sopranos" sure thing.

And just to be sure, the maximum bet on any one category is $50.00, apparently so no one is financially motivated to violate their own personal omerta. If you want to lay down a few bucks on the "Sopranos" finale, click here.

Comments

[OldOldLady Of The Hills]

LOL, LOL, LOL....You gave me a good laugh, Ray...I agree, one might need Betting On "Soprano" Anonymous Rehab!