Gamblers can now bet on who they think will be elected as Toronto’s next mayor.
Gambling company FanDuel has given Torontonians the opportunity to bet on 12 candidates running for the top job. This move is part of the company’s “novelty betting program” that applies to sports and non-sports markets.
Currently, betting odds correlate with standings in the mayoral polls. For instance, front-runner and former city councillor Olivia Chow is leading the money line at +150. This means if Chow wins the mayoral race, those who betted on her would win $150.
READ MORE: 2 in 5 Torontonians would vote for John Tory if he ran for mayor again: poll
Trailing behind her is former city councillor Ana Bailao whose money line is at +450, followed by former Toronto police chief Mark Saunders at +550.
Those who voters believe have a lower chance of winning are listed further down the list.
For instance, former Toronto Sun columnist Anthony Furey, whose line sits at +2,000, has the same odds as retired Toronto police officer Blake Acton. The last candidate who holds the highest odds is former educator Kevin Clarke at +3,300.
FanDuel has executed several novelty betting programs such as predicting the first snowfall of the season in Toronto and specialized Super Bowl 2023 bets.
The deadline to file or withdraw a nomination to run as a candidate in next month’s mayoral byelection is set to close today. Those looking to register have until 2 p.m. to file their papers at city hall. So far, nearly 90 names have registered to run in the race.
The mayoral byelection is set for June 26.
