08.03.07 5:00 AM CDT
• Politics
• Stephen Randall
As if the upcoming presidential election wasn’t exciting enough, Slate, the online magazine, has found a way to make it even more interesting – gambling. Starting this week, Slate is covering what’s known as the political predictions markets, specifically four markets that act like any other futures market, serving as odds makers on the election based on how many people are betting (or should we say “investing”) in specific candidates. “The thrill of prediction markets for political junkies is that they harness ‘the wisdom of crowds.” says Slate, in all seriousness. “Lots of people wager on the outcome of political campaigns: Who's going to be the Democratic presidential nominee? Will the Republicans take back the House? And when the votes are counted, the winning bettors collect.”
Right now, the smart money says it’s Hillary vs. Rudy, with Hillary winning. But Slate will be updating the markets regularly as things change. (In case you’re feeling lucky, two of the markets being tracked allow you to bet real money – what better way to celebrate democracy than with a wager?)
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Well, we all lost last election...