Betting on single sporting events is illegal in Canada but gambling on multiple games is okay and it brings in millions of dollars for provincial governments through lottery corporations.
Lottery game players in Ontario are wondering why they cannot place a bet on single games, similar to how betting in done in places such as Las Vegas.
"In Vegas you can take a bet on one game and that's it," said Mark, a Sports Select player. "Here you have to bet a parlay of three or more games. It's a lot more difficult."
That difficulty stacks the odds against winning. A winning ticket purchased by CTV's Paul Bliss had five events correctly chosen, including Sunday's NFL Super Bowl game. The resulting payout was $64.80.
In North America's gambling hub, a Las Vegas gambler could have placed a bet on just the Super Bowl.
"Canadian law does not allow for ... wagering on single sporting events," Ontario Lottery and Gaming spokesperson Teresa Roncon said.
Canada's Criminal Code outlaws betting on single sporting events, meaning people in Ontario had to bet on hockey too. The OLG has never approached the federal government seeking permission for single-game betting, CTV's Paul Bliss reported.
Even in Ontario's casinos which have sports lounges, patrons had to place bets on more than one game while watching the Super Bowl.
Ontario's lottery corporation believes their product is attractive to sports fans who want to wager a few dollars on the outcome of a few games.
"People love to do it. It requires skill, it requires knowledge and I think that always attracts a particular niche of customer," Roncon said.
The lottery corporation made $650,000 dollars on sports betting over the weekend.
With a report from CTV's Paul Bliss
