U.S. presidential election fuelling bets in B.C.

Most Canadians can’t vote in the U.S. presidential election, but it hasn’t stopped many from using their cash to voice an opinion on who they think will win. The B.C. Lottery Corp. is taking online novelty bets on the American election, and spokesperson Doug Cheng says there has been rapid growth in wagers since presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump’s campaign began to gain momentum. Cheng says U.S. election bets have become the highest earner on the website’s novelty betting category, surpassing the Oscars. Cheng says the site currently has the odds of Democrat Hillary Clinton winning the White House at about 2-5 and Trump’s odds at slightly less than 2-1. He says in B.C., 38 per cent of people placing bets have their money on Clinton becoming president, compared with 25 per cent for Trump.