SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
Iceland Prime Minister Sigmundur Gunnlaugsson stepped down from his post this week but its highly unlikely that he’ll be the only high profile casualty of Panama PaperGate.
Accordingly Paddy Power has opened a betting market on who it believes will be the next to step down with Argentine leader Mauricio Macri and Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko the joint favourites at 8/1.
Macri faces a probe after a federal prosecutor in Argentina opened an investigation into the President’s financial affairs. The files leaked by Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca showed that Macri failed to reveal his connections to an offshore company in the Bahamas.
In a statement on Tuesday Macri’s office explained that because Macri had never received any income from it, there was no need for him to include it in financial declarations.
David Cameron, included due to his father Ian’s involvement with a legal but offshore fund for private investors, is priced at 20/1 and seems incredibly unlikely to step down after his statements on the subject this week. Vladimir Putin has also denied any allegations of his involvement, and turned it around saying that they’re an attempt by Russia’s opponents to weaken and destabilise the country. He said that Russia’s Western opponents “are worried by the unity and solidarity of the Russian nation… and that is why they are attempting to rock us from within, to make us more obedient.”
Some more outside bet options include Robert Mugabe (66/1), Queen Elizabeth II (66/1) and Kim Jong-un at 90/1.
The market, which can be seen here, will close at 10pm on Friday 8th April. It is noted that the market only applies to the next incumbent head of state, prime minister or monarch to step down form their position, temporarily or otherwise, because of links to Panama Papers, as confirmed by guardian.co.uk.
