Experts Are Betting on Royal Wedding Date, Location and More

Royal watchers are anxiously waiting for the details of Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding to be disclosed, but some have chosen to test their luck by betting on just about every aspect imaginable – even the color of the queen's hat! Royal officials have confirmed that a wedding will take place next spring or summer, but inquiring minds are speculating down to the exact date the couple will tie the knot. The UK's Daily Mail reported that bookies suspended betting on the date of the engagement announcement just hours before the news was released, fearing there had been a leak – but this didn't stop mystery gamblers from scooping up a £200,000 jackpot in "the biggest Royal leak in betting history."

The same day the engagement was announced worldwide, Ireland-based online betting site Paddy Power opened the bidding with "Royal Wedding Specials" novelty bets. The site has come up with all sorts of interesting nuances to wager on, from the length of Kate's train to the color of the bridesmaids' dresses. So far they've predicted August 13, 2011 as the current favorite at 3/1, followed by August 6 at 4/1 and July 30 at 10/1.

Other intriguing subjects open for bets on Paddy Power include where the ceremony will take place (Westminster Abbey leads the pack as the 6/5 fave), how many TV viewers will tune in to watch the royal nuptials (more than 36 million at 3/1), what title William with assume (Duke of Cambridge is ahead at 5/4) and which wedding gown designer Kate will choose to design her wedding dress (Amanda Wakeley at 4/1).

So how does all this gaming work? "Everything the Royal family does gets attention, and this is the first real event to happen to the family in some time that is newsworthy," says Cory Scott, manager of expert sportsbook Youwager.com. "When something gets a lot of press, and there are a lot of questions surrounding that event, it is the perfect time to put up odds. Questions bring about opinions – and opinions are the basis of wagering.‬" In contrast to Paddy Power, Youwager.com is saying the wedding will most likely happen before June 1 of next year, with the couple expecting kids two years after marriage.

With the royal wedding now an open market for bookies and online gamblers, which predictions will actually come true – or are all bets off? We'll keep our poker faces on.

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