Bookmaker rejects Obama death bets

LONDON, Nov. 8 (UPI) -- A British bookmaker says it has rejected more than 100 requests from gamblers wanting to bet on U.S. President-elect Barack Obama being assassinated.

The company, William Hill, has informed customers it never would take bets on the possible death or injury of any person, said spokesman Graham Sharpe.

"It's not illegal for us to do it if we choose. But I would seriously question the motives of anyone who did it," said Sharpe, noting the idea of such bets "leaves an uneasy feeling and an unpleasant taste in the mouth."

White supremacists allegedly already are targeting Obama, the United States' first black president-elect, The Times of London reported Saturday.

A record $15 million-plus was gambled through William Hill on the outcome of last Tuesday's U.S. presidential election, Sharpe said.

"When the campaign began, Obama was a 50/1 outsider -- by the time we stopped betting he was 1/50," Sharpe said.