Bet on the American Presidential Election

8 years ago
Bet on Who Will Take Over Obama’s Mantle
19:04
03 Feb

The US Presidential election may still be 10 months away, but betting on the outcome has already started, with Loto-Quebec getting in on the act to give their northern neighbours a chance to win big – or lose bigger!


With the Iowa caucus having finished, the Canadian gambling outfit have opened the books on who will take over Barack Obama’s mantle as head of the biggest superpower in the world.

Although betting on the race to the White House is a common occurrence in many countries, US citizens will find it much harder to place a wager, with gambling restrictions limiting what has historically been a massive money-maker for bookies in the country.

The Quebec lottery corporation, however, have decided there will be enough interest to open their own book, Loto-Quebec spokesman Patrice Lavoie stating:

It's on everyone's lips so I think that can be interesting for part of our clientele."

"That kind of bet only interests 5% of Quebecers," he continued, adding that the offering is similar to their wagers on other cultural, non-sporting events such as the Oscars, and “not intended as a moneymaker for Loto-Quebec.”


Dr. Jeff Derevensky, a professor at McGill University who also runs the International Centre for Youth Gambling Problems and High-Risk Behaviours, said Loto-Quebec is copying the often unusual betting offers which other sites frequently use to entice gamblers.

One of the online sites was trying to take wagers on when they thought there'd be verification for aliens landing in the United States," he said, adding, "I think it's just one more marketing strategy to attract people to the online gambling site."

Graham Dodds, associate professor of political science at Concordia University, weighed in, saying:

There's no denying that U.S. politics is often very interesting…and obviously right now with Donald Trump, it's nothing if not interesting."


The odds on who will replace Obama vary widely depending on which bookmaking site you visit. Hilary Clinton is even-money with some, while Trump – despite his almost daily utterings, apparently designed to gain widespread support but often descending into raucous debate and recriminations – currently a 40-1 outsider.

There are possibilities for US citizens to bet their bottom dollar on the new presidency, but generally they will have to hold a paying account outside of US control.

Anewdomain.net explains that:

The gambling site Bovada lets Americans place bets on sporting events, including presidential elections. The bets need to be placed with an international rather than U.S. domestic form of payment — like, say, an international gift card.”

Alternatively, having an address outside of the USA would enable gamblers to lay wagers through most non-US sites. Ladbrokes, one of the biggest bookmakers, with around 2,400 bricks-and-mortar betting shops in the U.K., Ireland, Belgium and Spain, in addition to their huge online gambling presence, currently have Hilary Clinton at even money, with Jeb Bush at 7-2.

Bernie Sanders is sitting at odds of 9-1, just behind Scott Walker (8-1) and Marco Rubio (7-1). Trump, as stated, is a 40-1 dog at the moment – and looks unlikely to make up ground on fellow Republican nominee Jeb Bush, despite Bush’s obviously notorious background battles regarding vote-rigging amongst other things.


For the average punter, there is little money to be made on the front-runners at the moment, but as Anewdomain.net point out:

Futures trading is an alternative to online betting. The Iowa Electronics Market provides a futures market in U.S. monetary policy and presidential elections. The University of Iowa runs that site, which is intended as a pedagogical tool for students, and unlike online betting shops, the Iowa Electronics Market lets you legally bet between $5 and $500, even if you’re a U.S. resident.”

Naturally, breaking US gambling laws has consequences, so proceed with caution if you are planning on taking the presidential race for a dollar or two!

Meanwhile, back in Quebec where it’s all perfectly above-board, Loto-Quebec are themselves ‘betting on people like Dodds, who said he may take a flyer on this wager.’

"I follow the U.S. presidency professionally but also as a political junkie and I think this is exciting," Dodds is reported as saying. "It is a lively, fun, crazy thing and if you can make a dollar on it, why not?";


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Andrew from Edinburgh, Scotland, is a professional journalist, international-titled chess master, and avid poker player.Read more

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