DraftKings’ Johnny Avello Says Ontario Bettors Show Sophistication
Posted on: January 1, 2026, 09:00h.
Last updated on: January 1, 2026, 09:02h.
- Blue Jays most bet team in Ontario in 2025 (by handle)
- Saquon Barkley most bet player, NFL TD scorers
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder finished as the most-bet NBA player and team
One thing about Ontario sports bettors, according to Johnny Avello, DraftKings’ Sportsbook Director: They are very sophisticated, looking at most bet teams and players for 2025.
“Overall, they are different from U.S. bettors in terms of some of the teams they pick,” he said. “They had Saquon Barkley as the most bet player for NFL TD scorers (by handle and bets in Ontario), and he does score a lot of touchdowns. And you bet him every week. (Patrick) Mahomes (most bet NFL player by handle, second to Josh Allen in bets), kind of in that same category. Vlad Guerrero (most bet MLB player by handle) makes sense. Connor McDavid makes sense. (Bettors from Ontario) always like to bet the Chiefs, even if they weren’t in a Super Bowl.
Blue Jays Most Bet
“Dodgers are another one. They just bet good teams in general. Why are the Dodgers so popular up there? Maybe because they just win a lot. Those Dodgers players are more well known than others.
“When I look at the things that they bet, yes, I would say they are very sophisticated.”
According to DraftKings data, the Top 10 most bet teams in Ontario in 2025 (by handle) were the Toronto Blue Jays, Oklahoma City Thunder, Toronto Maple Leafs, Los Angeles Dodgers, Kansas City Chiefs, Golden State Warriors, Buffalo Bills, Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets, and the Philadelphia Eagles.
NFL Dominates
NFL games dominated event betting, accounting for the 10 most-bet events among Ontario bettors in 2025. Canadian star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder finished as the most-bet NBA player and team, respectively.
Connor McDavid ranked as the most-bet NHL player, while the Toronto Maple Leafs were the most-bet hockey team overall. Canadian teams featured prominently, with both the Blue Jays and Maple Leafs placing inside the top three across all sports. NFL and NBA powerhouses rounded out the list, reflecting Ontario bettors’ strong interest in star-driven teams and championship contenders.
Most Bet Events
New York Jets at Miami Dolphins on Sept. 29, Carolina Panthers at New England Patriots on Sept. 28, Baltimore Ravens at Kansas City Chiefs on Sept. 28, Chicago Bears at Las Vegas Raiders on Sept. 28, and Green Bay Packers at Dallas Cowboys on Sept. 28 were the most bet events by handle.
Chiefs at Philadelphia Eagles on Feb. 9 (Super Bowl), Patriots at Buffalo Bills on Oct. 5, Packers at Dallas Cowboys on Sept. 28, Detroit Lions at Cincinnati Bengals on Oct. 5, and L.A. Chargers at New York Giants on Sept. 28 were the most bet games in 2025 by bets.
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