Earlier today, esctoday.com published the first betting odds offered for the 2007 Eurovision Song Contest. This afternoon, Paddy Power became the second company to open the books on the competition. They are offering odds on four countries, their key market countries of Ireland and the United Kingdom, and they are taking bets on their perceived favourites: Israel and Germany.

Whilst Betfair have the Swedish band, The Ark as favourites to win, Paddy Power have declared their early favourites to be the anti-nuclear weapon entry from Israel and the pure jazz sound from Germany. Both countries are being offered 10/1 odds for victory.

Paddy Power have opened the books on a win for the United Kingdom's Scooch at 16/1 and their homeland entry, Dervish from Ireland is ranked at 18/1. William Hill have not updated the United Kingdom odds on victory from 20/1, which was in place before the national final on Saturday.

BIG POLL
Remember that the esctoday.com 2007 BigPoll is now open and the all new design and interface makes it easier than ever to predict the outcome of the 2007 Eurovision Song Contest. You can make your predictions until 17:00 on Thursday 10th May for the semi final. After the show, the BigPoll for the final will open. Click here to register your predictions. (You can update your prediction at any time until the poll closes).