As the sun dipped below the horizon, Canadian sportsbooks experienced an electrifying surge – tapping into the intense fervor of the 2024 U.S. Presidential election was proving to be a lucrative move. While the thrills of the NFL, NBA, and NHL typically filled their coffers, this political juggernaut unlocked an unexpected bonanza.
In the eye of the storm stood Donald Trump, locking horns with Kamala Harris in an intense duel for the ages. Their battlefield? The hearts and minds of American voters—but also the wager sheets of Canadian bettors who couldn’t resist the drama. The stakes were high, the players larger than life, and the betting markets were singing with activity.
Trump, with his maverick aura, maintained his grip as the unyielding favorite, securing 75% of early bets from Canadians eager to cast their financial vote. BetVictor’s own David Merry recounts, “Interest peaked as dusk turned to darkness, with Trump’s stronghold never wavering. His shortest price hit an astonishing 1.44 (-227) and by the witching hour of 4:30 AM, he was sitting at a commanding 1.20 (-500), consistently tightening until all bets were off.”
The odds themselves danced a tumultuous tango through the night. In Ontario, adrenaline ran high at BetMGM where initial odds of Trump at -200 versus Harris at +170 morphed into a frenetic Trump -2500, Harris +1100 by the late hours—a vivid reflection of the Swing States’ decisive input.
DraftKings bore witness to an equally fervent scene, with Trump securing 55% of the overall handle among Ontario’s bettors, an emblem of confidence in his enduring appeal, despite the escalating prices. Johnny Avello, DraftKings’ maestro of Race & Sportsbook Operations, noted, “The run-up to the election had our customers on the edge of their seats, but nothing compared to last night’s live-betting frenzy.”
In a dramatic turn, Trump’s successful capture of the popular vote—an occurrence considered an upset at odds of +250—left a sweet taste in the mouths of those who dared to defy the odds.
At Ontario’s Proline, operated by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, wagers poured in with Trump receiving 53.7% and Harris 46.3%, a tightly-knotted race that kept bettors on tenterhooks. Even the popular vote didn’t escape their gaze, where Trump’s underdog status led to a fascinating 29% of the action.
In a night where the unpredictable became reality, Canadian sportsbooks discovered a new declaration of betting independence—presidential politics could, indeed, be a gold mine.
