Who’s The Betting Favorite To Replace Pat Sajak On ‘Wheel of Fortune?’

After over 40 years, Pat Sajak is R – – – – – – – from Wheel of Fortune (retiring).

The longtime host of the beloved game show recently announced he was stepping away on social media. “Well, the time has come. I’ve decided that our 41st season, which begins in September, will be my last,” Sajak wrote. It’s been a wonderful ride, and I’ll have more to say in the coming months.”

Sajak will continue working on the series as a consultant over the next three seasons, but intrigue abounds as Fortune fanatics ponder his possible successor. Online sportsbook Bovada has gambling odds posted on the next Wheel of Fortune host, with Ryan Seacrest the current frontrunner at +200 (2-1). While the former Live with Kelly and Ryan star is reportedly in talks to replace Sajak, Bovada’s odds (as of June 14 at 12:00 p.m. ET) offer an array of interesting options. Let’s take a look, shall we?

The Favorites:

• Ryan Seacrest: +200
• LeVar Burton: +300
• Vanna White: +325

Is Seacrest the logical choice? Sure. But you can’t take a ride on a Reading Rainbow without a little thing called letters. Burton would be a fun selection after the whole Jeopardy debacle, and you can’t count out White, who’s been with the show almost as long as Sajak (and has previously hosted the series).

The Underdogs:

John Michael Higgins +1200
Maggie Sajak: +1200
Tom Bergeron: +1200
Wayne Brady: +1200

All four of the above contenders have hosting experience, with Sajak’s daughter Maggie serving as the show’s Social Correspondent. Out of the four potential hosts with 12-1 odds, Brady would be the most fun, but you can’t ignore Bergeron’s high-profile hosting resume (Hollywood Squares, America’s Funniest Home Videos, Dancing with the Stars, Good Morning America).

The Longshots:

• Don Lemon: +2000
• Michael Strahan: +2000
• Craig Ferguson: +2500
• Jane Lynch: +2500
• Mark McGrath +2500
• Scott Rogowsky: +2500

Out of everyone listed, I think Bergeron is a bit too high (+800 seems more accurate) while Lemon and Rogowsky (the former HQ Trivia host) are a little low. Rogowsky is a terrific host, but I don’t think the HQ Trivia and Wheel of Fortune crowds run in the same circles.

The Extreme Longshots:

• Snoop Dogg: +4000
• Sharon Osbourne: +5000
• Whoopi Goldberg: +5000

Okay, so who will actually replace Sajak as the host of Wheel of Fortune? As we mentioned above, the scuttlebutt is the betting favorite Seacrest, which is a safe yet uninspired choice. I’d love to see the show go off the board and offer the job to a surprise candidate, but that’s unlikely.

At the very least, I’m excited about the potential bevy of entertaining guest hosts once Sajak officially exits. Can you imagine episodes led by Kenan Thompson, Conan O’Brien, Charles Barkley, Amy Poehler, Keegan-Michael Key, Amber Ruffin, Craig Kilborn, Ali Wong, or, fingers crossed, Curb Your Enthusiasm star Susie Essman?!

“You’re guessing a Z? You know what? Fuck you, Larry!”

A man can dream.

Complete gambling odds can be found on Bovada.