Las Vegas oddsmakers favour Chicago Cubs to repeat in 2017

The Chicago Cubs have already broken the curse and won a World Series.

Now, oddsmakers in Las Vegas predict the team will become only the third in almost 40 years to win it a second straight time.

The city’s sports books like the team to win it all, with some making the Cubs a 7-2 favourite. Other favourites are the Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers.

“It’s a team that wasn’t built for the short run; it was built for the long run, and they have the capability of being a strong contender for years to come,” Jay Kornegay, sports book director at the Westgate Las Vegas, said about the Cubs. “I’m not saying it’s a dynasty, but it’s certainly looking like it could be.”

The Cubs, who open against the Cardinals in St. Louis on Sunday, are 7-2 favourites at Westgate, followed by the Indians at 5-1 after opening at 12-1. The American Gaming Association has estimated that $36.5 billion will be wagered on Major League Baseball this year, most of it illegally through offshore websites and bookies. Sports bettors in Las Vegas have always loved the Cubs. Even when they had no chance to make it to the World Series, people would put money on them.

“Usually, they are 15-20 spots down the list and still have drawn lots of tickets and money, creating big liabilities for sports books over the years,” said Jay Rood, vice-president of race and sports books at MGM Resorts International, where the Cubs are a 3-1 favourite to win it all. “

The Cubs have nearly twice as many tickets written as the next closest team, which is the Indians.”