American Idol Odds Posted for Final Three Contestants  5/13/06

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Taylor Hicks New Favorite to Become the Next American Idol at PinnacleSports.com

WILLEMSTAD, Curacao, May 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Last night's upset elimination of Chris Daughtry shocked fans and bettors who believed the North Carolina native was a shoe-in to become the fifth American Idol. Daughtry became the favorite with bettors at PinnacleSports.com, the first company to open wagering on the reality show, after the 24 Idol finalists performed for the first time. Immediately following yesterday evening's elimination show, PinnacleSports.com released updated odds on which of the three remaining contestants will become the next American Idol.

The largest sports betting site on the Internet, PinnacleSports.com has received unprecedented interest in the latest edition of the hit reality show, with wagering already 20 times bigger than on the Oscars and expected to rival this year's NBA Finals. With his manic stage presence and Daughtry's elimination, Taylor Hicks has become the new favorite to win American Idol at 5/8 odds (i.e., win $5 for every $8 bet). Despite two mediocre weeks in a row, including a narrow escape last night, Katharine McPhee remains a solid Idol contender at 5/2 odds. PinnacleSports.com remains skeptical of Elliott Yamin's chances and not only lists him as a 5/1 long shot to win the major recording contract, but has also made him the favorite to be next week's Idol casualty at 5/9.

"While somewhat unexpected, Chris' elimination didn't come as a complete surprise, as we dropped his odds significantly following his lackluster performance Tuesday night," said Simon Noble of PinnacleSports.com. "Meanwhile, Taylor appears to have hit a high note with Idol voters and the soul patrol through his consistently impressive performances and winning stage personality."

PinnacleSports.com will offer betting options on American Idol throughout the remainder of the series until the series finale. For a complete list of American Idol odds, please visit http://www.pinnaclesports.com/idol .

Current Odds: *All odds subject to change*

Odds to Win American Idol

Taylor Hicks 5/8

Katharine McPhee 5/2

Elliott Yamin 5/1

Odds to Be Eliminated on May 17, 2006

Elliott Yamin 5/9

Katharine McPhee 9/5

Taylor Hicks 6/1

About PinnacleSports.com

PinnacleSports.com ( http://www.pinnaclesports.com ) is the Internet's largest sports betting site, serving customers in more than 80 countries worldwide. Founded in 1998, PinnacleSports.com was the first sports book to introduce reduced margin wagering, using a -105 pricing model that gives bettors up to 50% better value on wagers than traditional bookmakers. With low minimum bet requirements and the highest maximum limits on the web, PinnacleSports.com has earned an industry-leading reputation for providing consistent value to the player, professional customer service and the quickest payouts online. Fully licensed and regulated in Curacao, the company offers a secure environment for sports betting, racing and casino gaming. 

SOURCE PinnacleSports.com

-0- 05/11/2006