The date of the gathering of the Catholic cardinals Pope Francis’ successor It’s not clear, but dealers and crypto investors are already scrambling to guess who will be the next pope.
A few days later Pope Francis dies On Monday, speculation about who will inherit him was already “one of the most popular betting markets of 2025”, the media offers sports betting insights.
According to Fairplay, the next pope is one of the 30 most active gambling markets this year, surpassing even the very popular FA Cup.
The Vatican chief diplomat, Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin, was the second place in Francis during most of his Pope, who led a list of several books that experts call “a global market for millions of dollars.”
British bookmaker William Hill listed Parolin at 9/4 odds – a safe bet. Following closely behind is the charming mild Luis Antonio Tagle – Filipino, who may be the first Asian pope – 3/1.
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Archbishop Matteo Zuppi of Bologna moved between the third and fourth place on the list, who served as the late pope’s special peace envoy to Ukraine.
According to Fairplay, OddsChecker is a more online bet website with a section dedicated to the “Next Pope”.
Although bookmakers have engraved early favorites, the outcome of the Secret Pope Conference is still unpredictable. At least 15 days, no more than 20 days The death of Pope Francis135 cardinal voters will attend a meeting, usually the successors selected from their ranks.
Although the Catholic Church frowned at the benefits of overzeal, gambling has been going on for centuries.
“Once the pursuit was largely limited to Renaissance Roman bankers and courtiers, it has evolved into a multi-million dollar global market that can be accessed by clicking a button or a click on a crypto wallet,” said Leighton Vaughan Williams, professor of economics and finance at Nottingham Business School.
Vaughan Williams said, “The Pope Gambling Market has developed significantly from modern conclusions in 2005 and 2013, although the accuracy of their predictions of secret papal meetings remains inconsistent.” In 2013, Francis was born in Jorge Mario Bergoglio and is not considered a favorite, ranking as low as 40 on some dealer lists.
Although Vatican experts and analysts were shocked by the possible leader, the cardinal who made up the meeting was sworn in to deport confidentially.
“There is no reliable information to trade…the market largely reflects speculation, media narratives and existing biases,” Vaughan Williams said.
After the release in 2024, interest has also surged this time Oscar-winning movie “The Principal”, This dramatizes the pope’s selection process.
A widely circulated image on social media breaks down a potential successor through its ideological beliefs, and users compare it to characters in fictional films.
Some social media users have abandoned Tager’s weight because of their mild views and tolerance towards LGBTQ individuals.
Another social media favorite is Garner’s cardinal Peter Turkson, who may become the first black pope.
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Vaughan Williams said gambling has risen rapidly this year. “The lasting cultural fascination with the Pope was emphasized and was amplified by media coverage and popular culture,” Vaughan Williams said.
In addition to the list of bookmakers and better experienced, extensive forecasts are made through encryption-driven websites such as Polymarket, where investors bet on future activities.
The U.S. website is popular in the 2024 election won by President Trump, and has accepted bets of more than $5.5 million for who will be the next pope.
Vaughan Williams said platforms like Polymarket represent a “significant shift” as they attract more bets while browsing “uncertain regulatory landscape.”
Polymarket put Cardinal Palorin as a 28% lead in becoming the Pope.
