Published on: November 6, 2024, 05:03h.

Last updated on: November 6, 2024, 05:13h.

Several Canadian sportsbooks discovered the benefits of offering a U.S. presidential election betting market last night.

Providing a variety of options for NFL, NBA, or NHL is great, but tapping into the intense energy, debate, and division surrounding the 2024 U.S. Presidential election, which ended with Donald Trump’s surprising victory, was on another level entirely.

Trump Maintains Lead Throughout the Night

Without revealing specifics, the intense competition between Trump from the Republican Party and Kamala Harris from the Democratic Party led to an increase in sign-ups.

Canadian punters showed early interest (75% for Trump),” said David Merry, a trader with BetVictor. “Trump remained a strong favorite all night. His odds fluctuated, but he eventually became an overwhelming favorite.

“We offered competitive prices for both Harris and Trump, leading to a surge in new accounts being opened in Canada,” Merry added.

Fluctuating Odds Movement

In Ontario, odds for the election fluctuated significantly throughout the night. At different points, Trump and Harris saw their odds change dramatically as the results from Swing States came in.

DraftKings reported that Trump had a slight edge in wagering activity among Ontario bettors, capturing the majority of the handle and total bets.

Customers continued to bet on Trump despite the higher odds,” said Johnny Avello, DraftKings’ Director of Race & Sportsbook Operations. “There was significant interest in live betting, with customers even betting on Trump to win the popular vote, resulting in an upset victory.”

The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation’s Proline also saw a similar betting pattern, with more wagers placed on Trump to win the election and the popular vote.