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Wednesday, January 10, 2001
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Casinos set odds on 'Survivor'

Favorite cast member knows military

If you're sure you can predict which of the 16 cast members on the second-season cast of "Survivor" will emerge as the winner, several Las Vegas sports books have posted odds on each contestant.

You just can't use the odds to make a bet.

Nevada gaming regulations prohibit the state's legal sports books from accepting bets on events that some people may know the outcome before the winner is publicly announced.

For example, the actual winners of the Academy Awards are likely known by the event's judges before the envelopes are opened. Similarly, "Survivor's" producers and cast undoubtedly know the show's winner before its final show is broadcast.

Boyd Gaming's sports books and the Sahara sports book don't care that they can't take bets on the CBS series' second season, titled: "Survivor: The Australian Outback."

Hoping to capitalize on the series' popularity, the Stardust and Sahara sports books have handicapped and posted the odds against each of the 16 cast members emerging as the winning survivor for entertainment purposes only.

Stardust book manager Joe Lupo sets the lines for each of Boyd Gaming's Las Vegas-area books, and he created his company's "Survivor" odds.

"`Survivor' is incredibly popular, and we see posting the odds on each person on the show as a great conversation starter," Sahara sports book manager Andy DeLuca said Monday.

DeLuca said his sports book staff based the odds on cast biographies released by CBS last week. Among the most important positive factors were military training and physical fitness.

Kel Gleason, 32, was chosen as the 6-1 favorite by the Sahara staff. Gleason is an Army intelligence officer, and DeLuca said Gleason's background as an outdoor enthusiast, his military training and his focus on physical fitness prompted the sports book to make him the favorite.

The Stardust line also lists Gleason as the favorite, at 4-1.

If betting on the Stardust's odds were legal, a $1 bet on Gleason would receive $5 back -- a $4 win -- if Gleason emerged the winner.

"I evaluated their jobs, their education and backgrounds to try and determine who has the wit and personality to come out a winner," DeLuca said.

Prison guard Debb Eaton, 45, is the Sahara's second favorite, at 7-1.

"She's a corrections officer at a men's prison, and I think that she'll be able to handle the stress," DeLuca said.

Lupo picked Harvard law student Nick Brown, 23, as his 5-1 second choice.

The biggest long shot at both the Sahara and the Stardust is Kentucky school teacher Rodger Bingham, 53, although the Sahara rates him at 100-1, while the Stardust lists his odds at 50-1.

"He's one of only two married cast members, and that makes it difficult for him. And he has no military background," DeLuca noted.

He said the beauty or physical appearance of the cast members didn't affect his odds.

DeLuca said the sports book posts the odds because the show is so popular.

"People like to talk about `Survivor,' so we create a little buzz by posting the odds," he said. "We did the same thing with the presidential election (state regulations also forbid bets on elections), and we got a strong response. It's something that makes the customers happy."

Ditto for the Stardust.

Boyd Gaming spokesman Rob Stillwell said the company's customers ask for the lines for the Academy Awards and "Survivor," and the sports books are happy to comply.

CBS has scheduled the first episode of "Survivor's" second season to air after the Super Bowl on Jan. 28.