Biden's B.C. gaming odds now at 10 to 19

The B.C. government is taking bets on the U.S. presidential election, with most players backing Donald Trump.

On Tuesday, the B.C. Lotteries Corp. (a Crown corporation owned by the provincial government) reported that it was expecting 10,000 online bets to be placed through its digital gambling portal — PlayNow.com — on the outcome of the Nov. 3 election.

“The 10,000 expected bets on the 2020 U.S. election would smash the previous PlayNow.com record for most bets on a single event,” BCLC wrote in a prepared statement. “The 2016 U.S. election currently holds that distinction with approximately 7,200 bets, making it more popular than any Super Bowl, Stanley Cup playoffs or NBA playoffs.”

BCLC reported that two months ago the odds of Democrat presidential candidate Joe Biden winning were four to five, and are now 10 to 19. President Trump's odds of success have fallen from almost 50/50 to 33 to 20.

However, while Biden remains the overwhelming favourite, Trump is getting the backing of most PlayNow.com gamblers.

“In fact, 44 per cent of bets have money on Trump to win a second term, compared to Biden's 27 per cent. Other non-candidates account for the remaining 29 per cent,” BCLC reported.

BCLC was the first jurisdiction in Canada to offer novelty online betting on the U.S. election — in 2014.

Problem gamblers are asked to visit GameSense.com before deciding whether to bet. BCLC took in over $2-billion worth of bets last financial year, across all its physical (lotteries and casinos) and virtual properties.