Trump may be down in the polls, but he’s tops for bettors

For the time being, all the polls seem to be going Joe Biden’s way ahead of the Nov 3 presidential election. But gamblers see a different reality and are putting their money on Donald Trump.

The Republican incumbent, who is seeking a second term, has slowly climbed back since late July to nearly even with the Democratic former vice-president.

For some Australian and British bookmakers, Trump is the odds-on favourite.

Betting on national or local elections is illegal in the United States. All the action is happening on foreign gambling sites – which Americans can sometimes access.

A US$100 (RM414) wager on a Trump win today could bring the punter a return of US$190 (RM787) if he notches the victory.

“There is no doubt that the momentum appears to have swung back into Trump’s favour,” said Rupert Adams, a spokesperson for British bookmaker William Hill.

Lee Price, a spokesperson for Irish gambling brand Paddy Power, explains that after a slowdown in betting activity due to the coronavirus crisis, interest has “started to pick up again in recent weeks.”

“We think Trump will sure to keep punters interested,” he said.

Many who have placed their bets on Trump now are hoping for a repeat of 2016, when the real estate mogul staged a stunning comeback against Democratic challenger Hillary Clinton to win the White House.

British bookmaker Betfair has taken in £10mil (RM55mil) in bets on the White House race since Aug 23, on the eve of the Republican nominating convention.

Beyond the main event, Paddy Power is also taking bets on some quirky issues: will Trump paint the White House gold (500-1)? Will he have an airport in Mexico named after him (66-1)?

But Price says the interest in those types of bets has waned a bit.

“Trump is less wacky, quirky, and funny,” Price says, calling the president’s current behaviour “just plain scary.” — AFP