Oil Spill Effects: Species Extinction Bets

British Petroleum's Deepwater Horizon spill is one of the worse environmental disasters in history. Just as early reports were misleading, undermining the crisis, so we are told now, in its second month, that it is not over yet. Not at all.

Latest talk and live video links are directed at the probable species extinction in the Gulf of Mexico. And there is at least one sportsbook that did not let this past with addressing t in pure gambling fashion.

PaddyPower has placed odds on what species would be first to become extinct. Morbid, true, but honest to the Chinese symbol for Crisis - one brush stroke for danger, and one for opportunity.

While the oil spill means absolute tragedy to the Kemp's ridley turtle, an endangered species that migrates to the Gulf this time of year, also ahead with 5-9 odds to go first, this betting opportunity is for you to capitalize on.

Other, less likely species to go are the gulf sturgeon, smalltooth sawfish and elkhorn coral.

Provocation?

Paddy Power have said in a statement, that this will draw attention to the environmental catastrophe.

This also raises questions about betting on non-sports, newsworthy events, to which they said: "People should be allowed to back up their opinion with some cash."