Richard Johnson

Richard Johnson

Celebrity News

Vegas bookies like odds of ‘12 Years’ winning Oscars

“12 Years a Slave” could sweep the Academy Awards, according to bookmakers in Las Vegas.

The nominations won’t be announced until Jan. 16, but the online betting site Bovada says the harrowing drama is a 2/3 favorite to win Best Picture over “Gravity,” “American Hustle,” “Saving Mr. Banks” and “Captain Phillips.”

Steve McQueen is tied at 5/4 with “Gravity” helmer Alfonso Cuarón to win Best Director over David O. Russell (“American Hustle”), Martin Scorsese (“The Wolf of Wall Street”) and Paul Greengrass (“Captain Phillips”).

Finally, “Slave” star Chiwetel Ejiofor is the 3/2 frontrunner for Best Actor over Robert Redford (“All Is Lost”), Matthew McConaughey (“Dallas Buyers Club”), Tom Hanks (“Captain Phillips”) and Idris Elba (“Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom”).

By law, the casinos can’t take any bets on the Oscars, but their handicappers enjoy putting out a line, and they are uncannily accurate.

Bovada says Cate Blanchett is a 1/3 lock to win Best Actress for her performance in “Blue Jasmine.”