Oddsmakers Don't Expect Microsoft to Acquire Yahoo By Summer

Yahoo won't be part of Microsoft anytime soon, according to oddsmakers.

Rumors were confirmed today when Yahoo officially rejected Microsoft's offer to buy the former at $31 per share.

"The proposal is not in the best interests of Yahoo! and our stockholders," Chief Executive Jerry Yang wrote in an e-mail to employees on Monday. "We believe Microsoft's proposal substantially undervalues Yahoo!"

That doesn't mean we've heard the end of the "Microhoo" story, but Bodog oddsmakers don't expect a deal to close by the summer.

To the question, "Will Microsoft acquire Yahoo by July 31st, 2008?" the answer "Yes" is getting +550 odds, meaning a $100 wager would pay $550. "No" is at -1000, meaning a bettor would have to risk a grand to win a hundred if they liked that option.

A more likely option in the near term, according to oddsmakers, is that Yahoo and AOL will merge. The "Yes" option to that question is at +170.