Serbian Betters Bank on Vucic Winning Presidency

Bookmakers in Serbia say the odds are heavily in favour of the Prime Minister and head of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party, Aleksandar Vucic, winning the presidential election.

The chances of him winning outright in the first round are slightly lower than his chances of winning in the second round, however, they said.

One day after Sunday's deadline for candidates to register expired, bookmakers Mozzart put the odds heavily on Vucic winning at 1.03, which means that for every 10 euros placed as a bet on his victory, the investor will get back only 10.3 euros.

The bookmakers put the odds on him winning in the first round somewhat lower, however, at 1.95, which suggests Mozzart has doubts about him winning in the first round.

Bojan Klacar, from the Centre for Free Elections and Democracy, CESID, said it was too early in the race to make much of betting odds.

Bookmakers "can quickly follow all the changes in the campaign and modify the odds. Also, depending on the payments [by gamblers], they can correct their forecasts," he explained.

Mozzart on Monday said the odds were on former chief of diplomacy Vuk Jeremic coming second. The betting shop was offering 3o:1 odds on his winning. Alongside him was former Ombudsman Sasa Jankovic, on 35:1.

The leader of the right-wing Serbian Radical Party, Vojislav Seselj, is not favoured by Serbia's betters as a likely winner.

His odds against winning are a thumping 200:1 meaning that those who bet on his victory stand to win a fortune.

Even lower down are "Enough is Enough" movement head Sasa Radulovic and the leader of the right-wing Dveri party, Bosko Obradovic, with odds of 800:1.

According to Mozzart, the odds on winning are smallest of all for Aleksandar Popovic,...