Picking a World Poker Tour event champion is like finding a stolen dog in Las Vegas.

It's the old proverbial needle in a haystack.

Tabbing a World Series of Poker champion in this day and age, with upwards of 8,000 entrants expected for the 2006 event, could be likened to finding a bottle with a note addressed to you on the shores of the Pacific Ocean.

It used to be much easier when only hundreds of players entered the fray, but now, with thousands ...

Nevada books are forbidden by state law to accept wagers on the WSOP, though one book tried to get away with it years ago and learned quickly such odds were verboten.

"It would take a consortium of major sports books to go to the Gaming Control Board to request it (WSOP betting) and I don't think that's going to happen," said Las Vegas Hilton oddsmaker Jeff Sherman.

A few British outlets have dispensed odds, heavy on Europeans and listing former European Player of the Year David "El Blondie" Colclough as the early favorite.

Top international stars such as Phil Ivey, Daniel Negreanu, Johnny Chan, Chris Ferguson and the other usual suspects also are listed among favorites.

Offshore book BetUSA.com has posted a wide array of odds, ranging up to 3,000/1.

Ivey is the favorite at 150/1, with Negreanu at 225/1, Howard Lederer and Phil Hellmuth at 250/1, Gus Hansen, Ferguson and John Juanda at 300/1 and Barry Greenstein, Carlos Mortenson, 2004 champion Greg "Fossilman" Raymer, Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi and Layne Flack at 400/1.

Annie Duke is the favored female at 500/1, the same as Phil "Unabomber" Laak.

Laak's longtime girlfriend Jennifer Tilley is 1500/1, along with Isabelle Mercier.

Defending champion Joe Hachem is 1000/1, the same as World Poker Tour broadcaster Mike Sexton.

Steve Dannenmann, last year's runnerup, is 2000/1.

Colclough is 750/1.

Costa Rican-based BoDog.com has taken another route.

Understanding the scope of just how difficult it would be for a person to choose a WSOP winner in advance, the House of Ayre is offering the wagering public a variety of propositions that are tied into the tournament.

Props ask if the winner will be male (minus $15.00) or female (plus $10.00) and from the USA (minus $4.50) or the rest of the world (plus $2.75).

Bettors also can wager on what the winning hand will be.

Odds are: royal flush, 210/1, straight flush, 155/1, four of a kind, 60/1, full house, 8/1; high card, 17/4; flush, 2/1; two pair, 8/5; pair, 7/4; and straight and three of a kind, 1/1.

Players also can get action on what the age of the champion will be.

Age 36 to 40 is the favorite at 3/2, while 31 to 35 and 41 to 45 are 3/1.