Not Just Sports: Canadians Embrace Novelty in Betting

Wagering has long been a part of Canada’s sports culture, and the hype around Super Bowl LIX only reinforces this fact. Senior trading manager Christian Cipollini noted that Super Bowl LIX was “the single biggest betting event in the history of BetMGM.” It’s worth mentioning that both BetMGM and Bet365 hold Ontario licenses for sports wagering. The province ranked 8th in terms of the number of bets placed on the Super Bowl via BetMGM. Local bettors are willing to take risks not just on traditional markets – they’re drawn to unusual wagers where knowledge isn’t the only factor; luck also plays a role.

One striking example is betting on the coin toss. The coin toss is a long-standing tradition in the NFL’s championship game. Every year, millions of people place wagers on whether the coin will land on heads or tails. According to OLG, 41% of PROLINE players chose tails – and they were right. Meanwhile, PointsBet recorded an even split of bets on both sides, which is a rare occurrence. The interest in such wagers shows that, for many, betting isn’t just about sports expertise – it’s also about the thrill. We talked about the betting habits of Canadians here.

Are entertainment bets the new trend?

People are willing to place wagers not just on game outcomes but also on random or amusing events. Bookmakers have taken note of this trend and have actively expanded their offerings. For instance, one wager was whether Kansas City Chiefs’ tight end Travis Kelce would propose to Taylor Swift after the game (he didn’t). Another bet focused on who would be shown first on camera during the national anthem.

Equally popular wager was on the colour of Gatorade that would be poured over the winning coach. Play Alberta users mostly chose orange, while PROLINE from OLG saw the quarter of bettors correctly selecting yellow/lime green.

AGLC bettors largely predicted that Jon Batiste’s rendition of the national anthem would run too long, whereas nearly four out of five OLG users correctly guessed it would last under 122 seconds.

And that’s just a fraction of the bets available on Super Bowl LIX. The betting market as a whole offers even more variety. Even relatively young bookmakers, like Rabona, provide non-sports wagering options.

The appeal of music bets

Bookmakers don’t just offer odds on sports events – they also cover concerts, award ceremonies, and TV shows, making betting appealing even to those who aren’t sports fans.

Take the Super Bowl halftime show, for example. Millions of viewers anticipate the musical performances just as much as the game itself. That’s why sportsbooks take bets on which artists will take the stage and what songs they will perform. This year, FanDuel Canada reported that such wagers were among the most popular.

But music-related bets aren’t limited to the Super Bowl. People also place wagers on events like the Grammys or the VMAs. They can bet on the winners, song choices, and even unexpected moments – like whether a performer will forget their lyrics or fall on stage.

Fantasy sports: the thrill of strategy

Fantasy sports continue to gain popularity in Canada. Unlike traditional wagering, players don’t just bet on teams – they create their own virtual rosters using real athletes. Competitors go head-to-head based on the real-life performance of their selected players.

For example, in fantasy soccer, you can choose a goalkeeper, defenders, midfielders, and forwards from different clubs. If your forward scores in a real match, you earn points. If your goalkeeper keeps a clean sheet, you also get points. The winner is the player whose team accumulates the most points over a set period (such as a week or a season).

When it comes to fantasy sports, players feel more in control of the situation and are therefore willing to invest more money than in regular betting, hoping for higher winnings. However, this approach often leads to disappointment and financial losses. It’s always crucial to consider different possible outcomes and avoid impulsive spending. We discussed the importance of strategy in betting in our previous article, where we covered the cases of two Canadian players.

Why is this so popular?

Entertainment-based betting is growing in popularity because it makes events even more exciting. People don’t just cheer for their favourite teams – they actively engage. Wagering on music, TV shows, or even things like the length of a national anthem or the colour of Gatorade adds extra suspense. This opens up new opportunities – not just for hardcore sports fans but for a much broader audience.

Another reason for this trend is the social aspect. People love to compete, share predictions, and discuss their wagers. Entertainment betting is becoming a shared experience that brings individuals together, allowing them to feel part of something bigger.

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