The Pope and the Dice

Betting on the new Pope is running wild, according to this story. Two excerpts:

"The level of interest has been nothing short of phenomenal," said Darren Haines, spokesman for top Irish bookie Paddy Power, which already has taken in about 7,000 bets worth more than $200,000.

The cardinal who was the early favorite, Dionigi Tettamanzi of Milan, is flagging badly across various betting sites. Francis Arinze of Nigeria took the lead for a day or two but now Joseph Ratzinger of Germany and Jean-Marie Lustiger of France are running head-to-head at the front of the pack.