It is a matter of when not if Kevin Rudd will get his revenge and challenge Julia Gillard for leadership of the Labor party says online bookmaker sportsbet.com.au, offering odds of $1.40 that he will challenge by the end of March.

It seems inevitable that the former Prime Minister will try and get his old job back by the end of the year, with $1.20 available for him to do so.

A leadership challenge by the end of February is also not out of the question ($1.72).

“Where there’s smoke there’s fire. The writing seems on the wall that Rudd will try and get back at Gillard and challenge for the leadership of the Labor party – it is a matter of when not if,” said sportsbet.com.au’s Shaun Anderson.

Market courtesy of sportsbet.com.au

When will Kevin Rudd challenge Julia Gillard for leadership of the Labor party betting?

$1.20 Before the end of the year
$1.40 Before the end of March
$1.72 Before the end of February

While Julia Gillard remains the favourite to be Labor leader at the time of the next Federal Election, Kevin Rudd continues to close the gap, firming from $3.50 into $3.00 with leading online bookmaker sportsbet.com.au to be in charge of Labor when Australia next votes.

Gillard was at $2.10 on Tuesday, 24 January but has since eased out $2.25.

Meanwhile, the Coalition remains the punters clear favourite to win the next Federal Election, firming from $1.35 into $1.33 while Labor continues to drift, out to $3.35 from $3.15.

“The market change is indicating that Kevin Rudd is getting closer and closer to mounting a possible Labor party leadership challenge,” sportsbet.com.au’s Ben Hawes said.

“But all that might mean nothing when it comes to Election day for Labor as they continue to drift in betting.”

The date of the next election is favoured to take place between 1 July 2013 and 31 December 2013 ($2.25) followed by between 1 July 2012 to 31 December 2012 ($3.00).

Australia’s next Federal Election winner Betting @ Sportsbet

(Prices in brackets from Tuesday 24 January)
$1.33 Coalition (in from $1.35)
$3.35 Labor (out from $3.15)

Labor Leader at next Federal Election Betting @ Sportsbet

(Prices in brackets from Tuesday 24 January)
$2.25 Julia Gillard (out from $2.10)
$3.00 Kevin Rudd (in from $3.50)
$4.50 Simon Crean (steady)
$6.50 Stephen Smith (out from $6.00)
$9.00 Bill Shorten (out from $8.00)
$17 Greg Combet (steady)
$67 Wayne Swan (steady)
$81 Chris Bowen (steady)
$201 Anthony Albanese (out from $151)
$201 Kate Ellis (steady)
$201 Nicola Roxon (steady)
$151 Kate Ellis (steady)
$251 Peter Garrett (steady)

Coalition Leader at next Federal Election Betting @ Sportsbet

(Prices in brackets from Tuesday 24 January)
$1.50 Tony Abbott (steady)
$3.50 Malcolm Turnbull (steady)
$6.00 Joe Hockey (steady)
$34 Chris Pyne (steady)
$34 Scott Morrison (steady)
$34 Andrew Robb (steady)
$51 Stuart Robert (steady)
$67 Julie Bishop (steady)
$101 David Johnston (steady)
$201 Wyatt Roy (steady)

Australia’s Federal Election Date Betting @ Sportsbet

(Prices in brackets from Tuesday 24 January)
$2.50 1st July 2013 to 31st December 2013 (steady)
$3.00 1st July 2012 to 31st December 2012 (in from $3.25)
$3.25 1st January to 30th June 2012 (out from $3.00)
$5.00 1st January to 30th June 2013 (in from $6.00)

The next federal election could happen sooner rather than later according to sportsbet.com.au, with the online bookmaker moving its market on the election to take place before June 30th 2012 from $3.25 to $3.00.

The election to take place between 1 July and 31 December 2012 has remained steady at $3.25, while the election to happen in the first half of 2013 remains a long shot moving from $5.00 out to $6.00.

The election date to fall during the second half of next year has drifted from $2.25 to $2.50, but remains the favourite.

Tony Abbott remains the short priced favourite at $1.50 to be the Liberal leader.

Kevin Rudd has firmed slightly from $3.75 to $3.50 to take Julia Gillard’s place and lead Labor into the next election, however Gillard is still favourite at $2.10.

Regardless of who takes charge, Labor’s chances of winning the election look long, moving from $2.90 out to $3.15 to remain in power. The Liberals on the other hand would need to make a massive stuff up to not be sworn into power, moving from $1.40 into $1.35 to win the election.

“The possibility of the election happening this year looks a real chance, but it wouldn’t spell good news for Labor who continue to drift in head to head betting against the Liberals,” said sportsbet.com.au’s Shaun Anderson.

“Kevin Rudd appears to be given some chance to regain power of Labor, but the money suggests it will still be Gillard who leads Labor into the next election.”

Australia’s Federal Election Date Betting Odds @ Sportsbet

(Prices in brackets from Friday 20th January)
$2.50 1st July 2013 to 31st December 2013 (out from $2.25)
$3.00 1st January to 30th June 2012 (in from $3.25)
$3.25 1st July 2012 to 31st December 2012 (steady)
$6.00 1st January to 30th June 2013 (out from $5.00)

Australia’s next Federal Election Betting Odds @ Sportsbet

(Prices in brackets from Friday 20th January)
$1.35 Coalition (in from $1.40)
$3.15 Labor (out from $2.90)

Labor Leader at next Federal Election Betting Odds @ Sportsbet

(Prices in brackets from Friday 20th January)
$2.10 Julia Gillard (steady)
$3.50 Kevin Rudd (in from $3.75)
$4.50 Simon Crean (out from $4.00)
$6.00 Stephen Smith (out from $5.00)
$8.00 Bill Shorten (out from $7.00)
$17 Greg Combet (steady)
$67 Wayne Swan (steady)
$81 Chris Bowen (steady)
$151 Anthony Albanese (steady)
$201 Kate Ellis (steady)
$201 Nicola Roxon (steady)
$151 Kate Ellis (steady)
$251 Peter Garrett (steady)

Coalition Leader at next Federal Election Betting Odds @ Sportsbet

(Prices in brackets from Friday 20th January)
$1.50 Tony Abbott (steady)
$3.50 Malcolm Turnbull (steady)
$6.00 Joe Hockey (steady)
$34 Chris Pyne (steady)
$34 Scott Morrison (steady)
$51 Stuart Robert (steady)
$67 Julie Bishop (steady)
$101 David Johnston (steady)
$201 Wyatt Roy (steady)

Punters with online bookmaker sportsbet.com.au continue to avoid Labor at all costs despite their odds to win the next federal election blowing out to an all time high.

Regardless of when the next election is held, the Coalition have firmed further from $1.33 into $1.28 to resume control of the country, while Labor has drifted from $3.30 out to $3.60.

“Labor have been friendless in betting for some time and regardless of how far we turn Labor’s price out they are still attracting no takers,” sportsbet.com.au’s Haydn Lane said.

“The fact that we are writing bets on the Coalition at very skinny odds for an election of which the date is currently unknown shows these punters believe the Coalition are well and truly across the line.”

Julia Gillard remains the favourite to lead Labor into the next federal election despite her price easing from $1.85 out to $2.25, although Simon Crean ($4.50 into $3.75) and Stephen Smith ($13 into $5.00) are hot on her heels.

“Simon Crean and Stephen Smith have been the best backed of late to topple Julia Gillard before the next election, while there has been some support for Kevin Rudd too,” Lane said.

The price for an election before the end of 2011 has eased from $2.10 out to $2.75, while the odds of Australia going to the polls in the first half of 2012 have shortened from $2.75 into $2.25.

“Punters are confident we’ll see an election sooner rather than later, although it remains to be seen if it will be before the year is out or early in 2012,” Lane said.

Australia’s next Federal Election Betting Odds @ sportsbet.com.au

$1.28 Coalition (in from $1.33)
$3.60 Labor (out from $3.30)

Labor Leader at next Federal Election Betting Odds @ sportsbet.com.au

$2.25 Julia Gillard (out from $1.85)
$3.75 Simon Crean (in from $4.50)
$5.00 Bill Shorten (out from $4.50)
$5.00 Stephen Smith (in from $13)
$8.00 Kevin Rudd
$15 Greg Combet
$51 Wayne Swan
$51 Chris Bowen
$151 Nicola Roxon
$151 Anthony Albanese
$151 Kate Ellis
$251 Peter Garrett
Quote others

Coalition Leader at next Federal Election Betting Odds @ sportsbet.com.au

$1.40 Tony Abbott (in from $1.50)
$3.50 Malcolm Turnbull (out from $3.25)
$10 Joe Hockey (out from $8.00)
$17 Chris Pyne
$26 Andrew Robb
$34 Julie Bishop
$34 Scott Morrison
$51 Stuart Robert
$101 David Johnston
$201 Wyatt Roy
Quote others

Date of Australia’s next Federal Election Betting Odds @ sportsbet.com.au

$2.75 Any Day in 2011 (out from $2.10)
$2.25 1st Jan 2012 to 30th June 2012 (in from $2.75)
$11 1st July 2012 to 31st December 2012
$11 1st Jan 2012 to 30th June 2013
$3.25 1st July 2012 to 31st December 2013
$41 Any day in 2014

Online bookmaker sportsbet.com.au has slashed the odds of a federal election being staged by the end of this year on the back of a string of bets by punters in the past week.

An election in 2011 is now priced at just $2.10 – in from $3.00 a week ago – while the odds of an election in the first half of 2012 have also shortened from $3.00 into $2.75.

The odds for an election at any time from 1 July 2012 onwards have eased.

“Clearly this hinges on what happens next in the seat of Dobell, but punters are confident we’ll see an election sooner rather than later,” sportsbet.com.au’s Haydn Lane said.

“All the betting in the past week has been for an election before the year is out, or in the first half of 2012 at the latest.”

Regardless of when the next election is held, the Coalition have firmed further from $1.40 into $1.33 to resume control of the country, while Labor has drifted from $2.95 out to $3.30.

Date of Australia’s next Federal Election Betting Market @ sportsbet.com.au

$2.10 Any Day in 2011 (in from $3.00)
$2.75 1st Jan 2012 to 30th June 2012 (in from $3.00)
$11 1st July 2012 to 31st December 2012 (out from $8.00)
$11 1st Jan 2012 to 30th June 2013 (out from $8.00)
$3.25 1st July 2012 to 31st December 2013 (out from $2.75)
$41 Any day in 2014 (out from $26)

Australia’s next Federal Election Betting Market @ sportsbet.com.au

$1.33 Coalition (in from $1.40)
$3.30 Labor (out from $2.95)

Yesterday I visited the major Australian sportsbooks to see see what the current odds were. Sportsbet Australia but they didn’t have any odds up on the Australian federal election in 2010.

Sportingbet Australia did however have odds of $2.90 up on the new website. At this time I didn’t know about the impending leadership change that would see Juilia Gillard become our new prime Minister.

In the last 24 hours the odds have changed to $2.65, with the ALP win staying at $1.45. The news reports today have suggested that the ALP are still strong favourites to win the next election over the Coalition.

If polls are anything to go by (usually they aren’t) then punters would be forgiven for jumping on the Coalition here. $2.65 is certainly looking better every day as the Labor Party begins what I predict will be a demise of epic proportions.

Australian gamblers will be looking on in keen interest with this one. Communications minister Senator Conroy is one that we’re keeping a close eye on, and one that many are calling for to be axed.

We’ll keep you updated with reports on how the political landscape in Australia is affecting online gambling.

Bet on the election at Sportingbet

Bet on the election at Centrebet

Bet on the election at Sportsbet

Bet on the election at IASbet