Sorry Pennsylvanias. You can’t bet on the Oscars.
It’s not as upsetting as Goodfellas losing Best Picture to Dances With Wolves, but it’s a bit of a disappointment. Gaming law in Pennsylvania only allows sportsbook wagers on professional or collegiate events.
However, there is some consolation. Oscar betting is available in New Jersey at:
- FanDuel
- DraftKings
- 888 casino
- Caesars
- FOX Bet
If you do make the road trip across the state border and want some betting tips, PlayUSA betting analyst Jessica Welman recently discussed Sunday’s 92nd Academy Awards on NPR. You can also find her insights on Oscar betting here.
The Oscar betting favorites
As of Feb. 7, the top categories in terms of handle at FanDuel were:
- Best Picture: 46%
- Best Animated Feature: 12%
- Best Original Screenplay, Best Director: 7%
At DraftKings:
- Best Picture: 32%
- Best Director: 10%
- Best Original Screenplay: 6%
You like them, you really like them. Here is who and what bettors’ bucks have backed the most as of Feb. 7:
At FanDuel:
- Toy Story 4: 70% of the handle for Best Animated Feature
- Joker: 66% of handle for Best Makeup and Style
- Joker: 64% of handle for Best Original Score
- Scarlett Johansson: 50% of handle for Best Actress
At DraftKings:
- Hair Love: 95% of handle for Animated Short Film
- Parasite: 83% of handle for International Feature Film
- St. Louis Superman: 71% of handle for Best Documentary: Short Subject
- Joker: 74% of handle for Best Makeup and Style
2020 Oscar betting odds
Best Picture:
- 1917: -200
- Parasite: +350
- Once Upon a Time in Hollywood: +600
- Joker: +1,100
- The Irishman: +3.500
- Jojo Rabbit: +5,000
- Marriage Story: +7.500
- Ford v Ferrari: +8,000
- Little Women: +10,000
Best Actor:
- Joaquin Phoenix: -3,500
- Adam Driver: +1,400
- Leonardo DiCaprio: +2.000
- Antonio Banderas: +5,000
- Jonathan Pryce: +5,000
Best Actress:
- Renee Zellweger: -1667
- Scarlett Johansson: +900
- Cnythia Erivo: +1,600
- Charlize Theron: +2,000
- Saoirse Ronan: +2,900
Best Supporting Actor:
- Brad Pitt: -2,500
- Joe Pesci: +750
- Tom Hanks: +2,000
- Al Pacino: +2,800
- Anthony Hopkins: +4.500
Best Supporting Actress:
- Laura Dern: -2,000
- Margot Robbie: +800
- Florence Pugh: +1,600
- Scarlett Johansson: +2,500
- Kathy Bates: +4.200
Best Director:
- Sam Mendes: -470
- Bong Joon Ho: +350
- Quentin Tarantino: +1,400
- Martin Scorsese: +3,000
- Todd Phillips: +4,000
DraftKings Oscar promo
The “main attraction” of the night is usually Best Picture and DraftKings is adding to the drama with an odds boost. At DraftKings, you can get 10-1 odds on any of the nine nominated films to win. The current favorites are 1917 and Parasite.
Here’s how you can claim the offer, no red carpet or paparazzi required:
- DraftKings Best Picture 10-1 odds boost is for new customers only.
- Create an account at DraftKings and deposit funds. You need to deposit a minimum of $10 to be eligible.
- Select your choice for Best Picture as your first bet.
DraftKings’ sportsbook director of operations Johnny Avello told the Asbury Park Press that people wagered around $1 million last year and he is expecting about the same this year.
Since legalized betting is still new in New Jersey, he said DraftKings and the state are taking “baby steps.” Users are only allowed to bet a maximum of $1,000 on the Oscars.
If you don’t make it into NJ or Indiana to bet the Oscars at a legal US sportsbook, don’t worry. There are still plenty of sporting events to whet your wagering appetite in PA throughout the weekend, including NCAA basketball and the start of a brand new XFL season.
