A bookmaker has turned away numerous gamblers hoping to bet on Barack Obama being assassinated.

William Hill bookmakers, which has received more than 100 requests, informed customers it would never offer odds on the possible targeting of the US President-elect. White supremacists have already allegedly plotted an attack on Obama, America's first black President.

William Hill spokesman Graham Sharpe said the company had no interest in betting on the possible death or serious injury of any politician or person under any circumstances.

"I cannot imagine why any reputable bookmaker would even consider taking such a bet or any punter contemplate placing one," Sharpe said.

The bookmaker said that people have asked to bet on prominent possible assassination targets in the past but never on the scale of demand for Obama punts.

"It's not illegal for us to do it if we choose," said Mr Sharpe. "But I would seriously question the motives of anyone who did it.

"It leaves an uneasy feeling and an unpleasant taste in the mouth. We are giving people the chance to express their opinions and make a bit of money but even bookmakers have the occasional moral scruples. We would not be prepared to step over that line."

According to William Hill, a record £10 million-plus total was gambled on the outcome of the US Presidential Election and Obama has been made even money favourite to win again in 2012.

One customer who staked £25,000 on Obama collected £42,000 as a result and another who bet £17,500 received £45,925

Mr Sharpe said: "When the campaign began, Obama was a 50/1 outsider - by the time we stopped betting he was 1/50.

"With Americans unable to bet on the outcome in their own country we took a considerable amount of money from exiled Americans around the world, who clearly wanted to speculate on what would happen."

William Hill is now offering odds on who will be the first female Commander in Chief of the US, placing Sarah Palin at 6/1 favourite, while Michelle Obama has a 16/1 chance.

On Thursday, two white supremacists pleaded not guilty to federal charges in an alleged plot to kill Barack Obama and dozens of other black people.

Court records say that Daniel Cowart, 20, of rural West Tennessee and Paul Schlesselman, 18, of Helena-West Helena, Arkansas, told investigators they planned to conduct a national crime spree that would include a string of armed robberies and the murders of 88 black people, culminating in a suicide attack on Obama.

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