Heath Ledger Golden Globe Win Paves Way for Oscar

Online oddsmakers were likely to make Heath Ledger a rather hefty favorite to win Best Supporting Actor at this year's Oscars.  Sunday night's Golden Globe Awards drove home that point.

Heath Ledger won the Golden Globe for best supporting actor for his performance as the Joker in "The Dark Knight."

"All of us accept this with a mixture of ... sadness but also incredible pride," said Christopher Nolan, who directed the film, about the actor, who died suddenly almost a year ago. "For any of us lucky enough to work with him, he will be eternally missed, but he will never be forgotten."

Now comes the anticipation leading up to the Oscars, traditionally the biggest bet on nonsporting event of the year.  Only the Super Bowl and Kentucky Derby receive more wagers for one day events. 

"It's not a question of whether Heath Ledger gets nominated or not," expressed Gambling911.com Senior Editor, Payton O'Brien.  "It's not even a question of whether he wins.  Everyone will be looking at the odds and how much they pay."

In a twist of irony, the Academy Awards nominations come out Jan. 22, the one-year anniversary of the actor's death from an accidental overdose of prescription drugs.

Only one actor has ever won a posthumous Oscar, best-actor recipient Peter Finch for 1976's "Network."

Jordan Bach, Gambling911.com