Offshore bettors wager on veepstakes

LAS VEGAS, July 31 (UPI) -- Offshore bettors are wagering on who U.S. presidential hopefuls John McCain and Barack Obama will choose as their running mates.

The Las Vegas Sun reported Thursday there is support for Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney as the Republican vice presidential nominee, while on the Democratic side Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine and Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh are favorites.

Although betting on politics is illegal in Nevada, offshore and international sports books cater to politics bettors, said Kenny White, chief operating officer of Las Vegas Sports Consultants, which sets the odds on sporting events.

"Our regulations are pretty much set in stone," he said. "We're only allowed to take wagers on sporting events that are settled on the field. That's why there's no wagering on the Heisman Trophy winner. That's voting."

In the 2004 election, the offshore books had Republican George W. Bush as a 2-1 favorite, and then later had Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., as the favorite at 3-1.

"That was amazing, a giant line move from Bush to Kerry," White said. "All of the exit polls were getting the wrong information."