NEW YORK, NY, Nov. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- The announcement of Time's Person of the Year 2006 is less than a month away and bettors are flocking to Sportsbook.com, the world's largest online sportsbook and casino, to get in on the action. Political controversy seems to be on most bettors' minds as Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has received almost one-third of the total money wagered despite being low on the odds chart at 20-1.

Controversial political tactics and arrogance towards the US and United Nations has labelled Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as one of the World's most notorious leaders. His uncompromising stance on Iran's nuclear program has angered much of the western world and many, including the US, believe Iran is secretly developing atomic weapons. This combined with Ahmadinejad's extreme anti-Israel views has made him a polarizing head of state in the Middle East.

Staying in line with controversial leaders, bettors are also putting their money on North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il, who has received 17.8 per cent of total money wagered. His nuclear ambitions and staunch opposition to U.S. foreign policy have made North Korea an international pariah. Recently, Kim Jong-Il and his unstable regime shocked the world as it tested a nuclear device and proclaimed North Korea's emergence as the world's ninth nuclear power. Odds makers at Sportsbook.com have Kim Jong-Il as a 10-1 bet to be recognized as Time's Person of the Year.

On the top of odds makers' list for potential candidates for this year's edition is Google Chairman and CEO Eric Schmidt with 9-2 odds. However, bettors are not so convinced that Schmidt is worthy of the title as he has only received 8.5 per cent of total wagers. Bettors show they have a soft spot for the American soldier, as they have received 13.9 per cent of all money wagered.

Bettors looking to weigh in can visit http://www.sportsbook.com/, where everybody bets, for all the latest entertainment odds and propositions.

Time Person of the Year 2006 - Odds to Win ------------------------------------------ Odds Betting Trends ------ -------------- Eric Schmidt 9-2 8.5% Al Gore 5-1 8.2% Steve Jobs 7-1 3.9% Global Warming/Mother Earth 7-1 8.7% Tony Blair 8-1 0% George W. Bush 10-1 0% Sheikh Hasan Nasrallah 10-1 0% Kim Jong-Il 10-1 17.8% Dick Cheney 12-1 0% Tony Snow 14-1 0% Madonna 14-1 0% Condoleezza Rice 14-1 0.4% The American Soldier 15-1 13.9% Hilary Clinton 15-1 0% The Iraqi People 16-1 2.2% Mahmoud Ahmadinejad 20-1 32.9% Angelina Jolie 20-1 1.1% The Islamic Insurgents 20-1 0% Ken Lay & Jeffrey Skilling 25-1 0% Darfur Refugees 25-1 2.2% Mel Gibson 25-1 0% Tom Cruise 28-1 0% John T. Schiller 35-1 0% Abu Musab al-Zarqawi 35-1 0.2% Moqtada Sadr 40-1 0% Ismail Haniyah 40-1 0% Bill Frist 100-1 0% About Sportsbook.com:

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