Paddy Power has opened the year by offering a flurry of Brexit-related bets. Some of these are serious, such as whether Article 50 will be extended beyond the end of March. In this case you can get even odds (50%) on the deadline being extended, and 8/11 (57.9%) on it not being extended. Paddy Power is also offering evens (50%) on a live TV leaders' debate on Brexit taking place before the start of April. They are also offering 1/10 on next week's meaningful vote being rejected by the Commons.
Some of Paddy 's offerings are more towards the novelty end of the spectrum (or at least we hope so). So, if you believe that the process will result in a crisis with shortages of basic goods then Paddy allows you to bet on the first items to be officially rationed by the government. As you'd expect, the favourites are fuel at 15/2 (11.7%), milk at 11/1 (8.3%) and bread at 16/1. You can also bet on a national shortage of gin (55/1), champagne (125/1), prosecco (125/1) and even Mars chocolate bars (150/1).
Personally, I'm not tempted by any of the above offerings. I also think that the 1/10 on the Commons rejecting the withdrawal agreement in a vote next week is probably a bit too short. Instead, I'd recommend Ladbrokes's 1/3 (25%) offering on Theresa May still being prime minister by 1 April. While she might possibly announce her intention to step down if Brexit is agreed, it would still take several weeks for the Conservatives to elect her successor.
Subscribe to MoneyWeek
Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE
Sign up to Money Morning
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
-
Should you invest in UK equities?The FTSE 100 hit a record high this week, but UK equities remain unloved and undervalued compared to their global and US peers. Should you snap them up at a discount?
-
State pension errors: DWP urged to check for mistakes among divorced peopleFormer pensions minister Steve Webb says there are a high number of divorced women on low state pensions. Now MPs want the DWP to check if there were any errors in “potentially underpaying men and women who are divorced”.
