I've spent over 20 years inside the betting industry. I'll guide you to avoid the hype, ignore the noise, and steer clear of the common pitfalls that catch out everyday punters.
- Ishiguro Last Won in 1989 and is a % chance to be the 6th writer with double awards
- Richard Powers is longlisted for the 2nd time in 2021 and joint-favorite in the betting
- Booker prize longlist of 13 is cut to a shortlist of six on 14th September when the betting really begins
- 2020 Booker Prize Winner Shuggie Bain was only 4th Favourite at the long list stage
As August comes to a close there are 13 excited authors on the Booker prize long list waiting expectedly and hoping their publication is not one of the seven eliminated as the Booker prize shortlist is announced on 14th September.
There are currently there joint-favorites all being offered by Bookmakers at the same 11/2 odds to win the prize including Klara and the Sun from Kazuo Ishiguro
The Japanese-born British author has had multiple nominations in his career and has a previous booker prize win under his belt for 'Remains of the Day' back in 1989.
Klara and the Sun is currently 11/2 to win representing a 15% chance as per bookmakers' odds. There is little to choose between the given probabilities of the expected 6 books to make the shortlist on 14th September
Booker Prize 2021 Betting Top 6
It is early days for betting on the Booker prize prior to the shortlist, but odds are available.
| Book | Author | Odds | Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Promise | Damon Galgut | 11/2 | 15.38% |
| Bewilderment | Richard Powers | 11/2 | 15.38% |
| Klara and the Sun | Kazuo Ishiguru | 11/2 | 15.38% |
| Great Circle | Maggie Shipstead | 7/1 | 12.5% |
| No One Is Talking About This | Patricia Lockwood | 7/1 | 12.5% |
| Second Place | Rachel Cusk | 7/1 | 12.5% |
Tough Competition
As the betting suggests, predicting the winner of the Booker Prize is not an easy task and bookmakers are equally cautious in 2021 with no clear favourite prior to the shortlist being announced.
There is little in terms of odds and probability of the top 6 in the betting.
In company with Kazuo Ishiguro looking for a second win is Richard Powers looking for his first with Bewilderment being his second nomination. He made the shortlist in 2018 with 'The Overstory' and is rightly considered one of the favourites in 2021.
14th September Shortlist Day
The current list of 13 books is shortend to just six on the 14th of September and a shift in the betting odds can be expected at this point.
Whilst there are only 6 left in the final round of the competition, being the favourite at the head of the market in the long list counted for little in 2020, when Suggie Bain by Douglas Stuart had three favoured titles ahead in the betting odds.
That said, once the shortlist was announced, it was the clear favorite in the betting, so a glance at who is top of the probability with bookmakers after the shortlist is announced is a must!
