Next Pope Betting Odds

On Monday 21st of April, Pope Francis passed away at age 88. As his succession race is peaking, bookies are already offering special lines for the next Pope betting odds, like the continent he comes from, and the pontifical name he will assume.

Should you wager on Luis Antonio Hagle as the frontrunner, or could Pietro Parolin or Peter Tuckson become the next pontiff instead? This guide will help you find the most lucrative Next Pope odds and websites that offer them, as well as our expert tips and predictions.

Which Bookmakers Offer the Best Next Pope Odds?

Although it is not the weirdest bet offered online, compared to wagering on aliens invading the Super Bowl, it is still considered ethically questionable. Some US bookies have declared that they have no intention of offering these bets. Here are the websites that are handing out the highest payouts:

1xbet

The bookie might be the number 1 destination for betting on the next pope, especially if you want to opt for the frontrunners. Cardinals Parolino and Tagle are given odds of 2.50 and 3.20. Here, you can also bet on the papal name.

Megapari

Megapari runs the same platform as 1xbet and 22bet, so you will find the same markets with fewer country restrictions. You can bet on the number of rounds to elect the next pope as an Over/Under market.

N1bet

N1bet is pricing its bets differently from the BetB2B bookies, as this sportsbook expects different outcomes from the elections. Here, you will find the best odds for Cardinals Pizzaballa and Turkson at 13.00 and 8.00. N1bet also offered a market for No Pope in 2025.

Who Could Be the Next Pope

The pontifical conclave has always been very speculative, especially since non-Italian popes have consecutively won the last elections. Non-cardinals can also be theoretically voted in, but they are rarely considered a possibility. Lastly, age plays a crucial role, as over-80-year-old cardinals lose their voting power.

Cardinal Tagle from the Philippines was considered the front-runner for many reasons at 4.00, but the Vatican Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin, is now leading the race with 2.50 odds. Bookies started giving the lines at 5.00 in the first two days.

Since nationality and continent of origin hold much importance, some experts argue that the next pope can be from Africa. The most likely African candidate for the papacy is Peter Turkson, who is highly regarded for his economic and pragmatic views and given odds of 8.00. Alternatively, Sarah could be considered a hard-liner with conservative views at 11.00.

If you are betting on a new pope with Middle-Eastern ties and European background (specifically Italian), Pierbattista Pizzaballa might be the best bet. He is the Latin Patriarch of Israel, Palestine, Jordan, and Cyprus, known for mediating for peace. Bookies give him 13.00 odds, making him a great option.

What Are Our Next Pope Betting Predictions

As time draws closer for white smoke to rise from the chimney of the conclave room, many things can change. For example, in the first two days after the death of Pope Francis, bookies were offering lines on the continent of the next pope, which they later withdrew and re-introduced with different prices.

In addition, there might be further bets that unfold, while current payouts will change, and names might no longer be considered. These predictions reflect our expert’s speculations at the time of writing:

Pierbattista Pizzaballa to become the next pope at 13.00

We think he is the frontrunner with European and Middle Eastern considerations. He is a bit young, so he might be opposed by cardinals who want a short papacy. This is why the payout is worth it for this candidate.

Europe as a continent of origin of the next pope at 1.47

Although candidates from Asia and Africa are highly likely to win individually, the majority of cardinals are from Europe, and they have better direct diplomatic ties with the government of Italy, the EU, and other relevant actors. The geo-political situation suggests that the seat of Saint Peter will have some traditional aspects this time: most probably an Italian pope.

Other Props for Betting on the Next Pope

If you want to place multiple wagers on this event, consider the alternative offered markets. The winner and the continent of origin bets can be regarded as repetitive, complementary, or opposite. Therefore, you should choose only one selection from these lines.

We mentioned that some bookies are delivering bets on the number of rounds to elect a pope, and the chosen name. These are independent markets, and you can punt on both, in addition to your main selection. Here are some examples:

Over 4.5 rounds to elect the next pope at 1.50

Most conclaves take between 4 and 7 rounds, while some last much longer. With so many possible candidates, we doubt the process will be a short one. We will take the bookie’s odds on this one.

Leo as the papal name of the new pope at 7.00

While betting sites are proposing papal names like Elon and Donald, we think the new pope will adopt one of the more appropriate names usually taken by the Catholic Patriarch. Bookmakers offer nice odds for names like Gregory, Pius, and Jon. Keep in mind, this is the most speculative and random prop.