What Odds James Bond Breaks Film Records?

The latest blockbuster in the ever-popular James Bond film series is set to his cinema screens in the UK and around the world from this week, and online sportsbooks are calling on people to place their bets.

Bond to break records?

The 22 previous James Bond films have only captured two Oscars between them, but such is the excitement behind this one that William Hill, Britain's largest online bookmaker, is offering 6/5 odds on Skyfall to break the UK's highest opening weekend gross record set by Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban in 2004.

Skyfall is being quoted 10/1 odds that it manages pick up at least one of the six Oscars for which it should be nominated. The six awards it will be in the running for are Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Supporting Actress.

007 and casinos

Online casino enthusiasts will know that Bond and gambling have always been associated with each other. Many Bond films have included casino scenes, such as the 2006 version of Casino Royale, 1971 hit Diamonds are Forever, and the first Casino Royale in 1967.

One of the best scenes in the newer Casino Royale features a game of Texas Hold'em poker in which Bond and his arch rival Le Chiffre battle it out one on one at the poker table. Bond unfortunately loses $50,000 in this hand after folding on the river card before Le Chiffre reveals he has a full house of 2s and 9s.