Ontario Sportsbooks Get In On Political Betting Action

Posted on: February 19, 2025, 04:11h. 

Last updated on: February 19, 2025, 04:11h.

Mark Keast Read More

Expertise: Canadian Gaming, iGaming, Las Vegas, Sports Betting, NFL, Boxing, UFC.

• Carney betting favorite to succeed Trudeau
• Odds tightening between Conservatives and Liberals on federal front
• Provincial election has Conservatives as heavy betting favorites

These are roller coaster times on the political front in Canada and BetMGM is betting on Ontarians putting their money where their mouths are.

Political Betting Heating Up

On the provincial election front, with two leadership debates in the books, and a vote scheduled for Feb. 27, Premier Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservatives are far ahead in polls.

According to Leger, Ford’s PC’s are leading by 20% (48%), ahead of Bonnie Crombie’s Ontario Liberal Party (28%), Marit Stiles’ Ontario NDP (16%) and Mike Schreiner’s Green Party (5%).

Who Stands Up to Trump?

All the talk about U.S. President Donald Trump and tariffs has been good for Ford, as he positioned himself as a strong spokesperson for the country, willing to fight back.

Ontario sportsbooks are getting in on the action. 

At BetMGM, the PC lead is so large they are only offering a market on what party will capture the second most seats in the Ontario Legislature (Liberals at -278, NDP at +175, followed by the Conservatives at +2000, then the Green Party at +10000).

Over at Bet99, the PCs are down as betting favorites at -1429, followed by the Liberals at +900, the NDP at +1500, and the Green Party at +3000. FanDuel has it: PCs -700, Liberals +750, NDP +1500, Green Party +3100.

Race to Replace Trudeau

With Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stepping down, a leadership race for the Liberal crown is now underway, with Canadian Parliament having been prorogued while the Liberal Party sorts itself out.

BetMGM is offering new markets there. As of Feb. 19, Mark Carney was listed as the betting favorite at -5000, followed by former Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland at +1200.

The Conservative Party under Pierre Poilievre still holds a commanding lead in the polls, at 42.2%, but the Liberal Party, sensing a Carney leadership win, has been eating away at that lead over the past six weeks, sitting at 26.5%. The federal NDP are at 15.9%. 

BetMGM has the Conservatives at -325 betting favorites, followed by the Liberals at +225. Over at FanDuel it’s the Conservatives at -400, the Liberals at +250.

Jordan Peterson for Governor-General?

The markets suggest that most Canadians see a Mark Carney win in the Liberal leadership as a foregone conclusion – but they’re nowhere near ready to predict his victory over Pierre Poilievre in the general election,” said Amanda Galbraith, a Canadian political commentator. “Given the unpredictable nature of the current political environment, we may well see some volatility in these odds over the coming weeks.”

BetMGM even offers a betting for next Governor-General of Canada, with astronaut Chris Hadfield the betting favorite at +600 (Jordan Peterson is at +2000).

Betting action has been slow so far.

“There is interest, but these are small markets and only available in Ontario,” said another spokesperson from BetMGM.