Online gaming site suspends wagering on 'The Bachelor'

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- For those wagering on ABC's "The Bachelor," the safe money in Aaron Buerge's hometown is on Helene.

So safe, in fact, that all bets are off.

BetWWTS.com, an offshore gaming company based in Antigua, announced last week it has stopped taking any more bets on which of the two finalists, Helene or Brooke, receives a marriage proposal from Buerge, the Springfield banker and star of the show.

It seems a huge number of bets originating from Springfield have been placed since Oct. 31, all for the full amount of $300 and all on just one of the two women: Helene.

"It's really hard to believe that someone doesn't know, when a group this size is betting the maximum," said BetWWTS.com spokesman Kyle Frantini.

Suspicions were aroused when what looked like a circle of people from Springfield, each referring one another to the Web site, began laying large bets on Helene. But ABC doesn't seem too concerned with what appears to be a tip-off.

"The bottom line is, the only way to really, really know the outcome is to watch the show on Nov. 20," said ABC publicist Lauren Tobin.

Tobin compared the speculation to "an urban legend -- where you can't ever trace it back to the source."

Cip Traub, Buerge's regional agent, also laughed off the accusation that Buerge's friends in Springfield know the outcome.

"I think it's total B.S.," Traub said. "I think it's somebody pretending they know -- somebody just shooting their mouth off."

Buerge said he hasn't heard of anyone in Springfield betting on the show.

"My parents don't even know the outcome, let alone my friends," Buerge said.

Eric Piel, bank president at First National Bank of Springfield, where Buerge is senior vice president, said he thinks it's ridiculous that people would give odds on a show that's been taped.

"I mean, it's in the can," Piel said. "There are people who know. It's not like a football game that's going to be played tomorrow."