In the absence of any public or internal party polling, bookmakers' odds suggest incumbent Joe McGirr is likely to retain the seat of Wagga but political experts warn not to place too much faith in betting markets.

University of Sydney politics lecturer Stewart Jackson told The Daily Advertiser it had been a bad week for Labor opposition leader Michael Daley but the government had also failed to sell itself to voters.

"I think they are head-to-head, but it's a question of where the swing will be and whether it will go to Labor or independents," he said.

"It has real implications for the National Party, which is facing a real struggle to hang onto a string of seats.

"It will hurt (Premier) Gladys Berejiklian's government if the Nationals can't hold seats or regain the ones they lost." 

A Galaxy Poll taken on March 19 showed the Coalition making a small gain but still being at 50/50 with Labor after preferences.

Newspoll on March 11 also showed the two party preferred vote at 50/50 despite a one point gain by the Coalition on the primary vote.

Charles Sturt University associate professor in political science Dominic O'Sullivan said the polls were all suggesting a close result.

"Michael Daley has had a bad week, and when it's that close losing just one point can be hugely significant," Dr O'Sullivan said. 

"The audience for the leaders' debate was not high but Daley's poor performance was widely publicised and that can undermine confidence.

"However, the sense I get is that people are not particularly happy with the government but they are not entirely confident that the opposition would do better."  

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Mr Daley has been forced onto the back foot by claims Labor had a preference deal with the pro-gun Shooters party, and a video emerged in which he accused Asian migrants of taking jobs from Australian citizens.  

"Michael Daley has had a reasonably crap week, and that has not helped, but I don't think Berejiklian has been amazingly good in comparison," Dr Jackson said.

"Daley just needs to do reasonably well but he hasn't even managed to do that.

"What that means is that we are still in the realms of a hung parliament, and in that circumstance the independent and minor parties, depending on who's elected, will come sharply into play." 

Dr O'Sullivan said most people's attention had been taken off state politics due to the far-right terrorist attack in Christchurch, New Zealand.

"The Christchurch mass shootings have dominated world news this past week, which makes it difficult to campaign," Dr O'Sullivan said.

"The government has used (the terrorist attack) to position itself as a safer bet on gun laws." 

Dr Jackson and Dr O'Sullivan agreed that Labor's stand against the $2 billion the Coalition plans to spend on Sydney stadiums had made an impact with voters, particularly in regional areas like Wagga.

Sportsbet on Thursday had the Coalition at $1.50 to win NSW and Labor at $2.50, with Dr McGirr at $1.25 to retain Wagga and Nationals candidate Mackenna Powell at $3.50.

Ladbrokes had the Coalition at $1.45 to win the state versus $2.70 for Labor, with Dr McGirr at $1.27 in Wagga and Ms Powell on $3.50.

Dr Jackson said the betting odds were sometimes wrong but could offer a useful insight as there was no apparent Wagga polling.

"From what I hear of Joe McGirr, he is well liked and why wouldn't Wagga elect him if they already did so a few short months ago?" he said.

Dr O'Sullivan said betting companies took their odds "very seriously as they stand to lose a lot of money if they get it wrong".

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