Online Gambling On American Idol

American Idol Season 7 is on its way. This year, more than ever before, its international appeal crosses well beyond the nation's limits.

International Celebrities
The annual televised singing competition, carried on FOX, and based on the British reality show Pop Idol, is an international trademark in more than one sense.

Music fans around the world can download the songs on iTunes; the contestants are legitimate celebrities, seen on TV; they are photographed attending fashion shows and around Hollywood, well before reaching any advanced stage in the contest, not to mention winning it.

Novelty Betting
This year, online gambling on the top 24 contestants is also part of the deal. Interestingly, the websites that offer the bets are not necessarily American. Paddy Power, an Irish bookmaker, was the first to offer betting odds on the new season.

Online gambling, novelty bets in this case, are bigger than any national television show or other. The Irish, and Europeans at large, not Americans, are betting on the show, ironically identified with being American. In fact, it qualifies among the top novelty bets on the site.

Bodog and other bookmakers catering to American gamblers have held back on posting odds, until the final stages of the show.

Tourist Bets
Taking into consideration such elements as what looks American voters prefer, how votes will split by age and gender, would US voters prefer male or female vocalists, a tween singer or Simon Cowell's favorite, the bookmakers have set odds on the contestants.

Paddy Power offers the best odds on David Archuleta, at 6 to 1. Gamblers, anywhere outside of America, can also bet on Australian Michael Johns, at 8 to 1 odds. Female singer Alaina Whitaker is also at 8 to 1.

Such bets have an additional disadvantage, namely their remoteness. Hence the term tourist bets. Perhaps it makes betting more challenging, and more fun.