Miss World 2009 Attracting Big Bets

As online betting sites in the UK and aboard continue to make wagering quicker and easier than ever before, more people are replacing high street betting shops with their computers and the internet as they bet on all manner of sporting and other events, such as the Miss World contest.

Set to be hosted on Saturday night in Johannesburg, South Africa, the 2009 Miss World contest is sure to draw hundreds of millions of viewers from across the world who are eager to see the bevy of beauties, as well as online betting fans who are eager to capitalize on who they think will win the event.

According to top-rated online sportsbook Bet365, Miss Puerto Rico is currently leading the way, followed by Miss Mexico and then Miss Barbados. It seems that all of this year's most highly backed beauties hail from or close to the Gulf of Mexico. It will be interesting to see who is crowned the winner.

But beauties and betting aside, this year's Miss World has not been without its controversy or more specifically the host country. It has transpired that although Johannesburg is cash-strapped, city officials pushed to host the expensive event which is expected to cost taxpayers R90-million (£7.3-million).