Ontario man who thought he won $1,458 on sports bet shocked by reason he won't get the prize
An Ontario man who recently bet $2 on a long shot and thought he won $1,458 by predicting the outcome of three hockey games was shocked when he was told he didn't actually win.
"I felt great, I was excited," Burlington man Marc Nadal told CTV News Toronto.
Sports betting is a billion dollar business and recently the rules were changed to allow single-game sports betting in Canada, but in Ontario that is only online and in store you still have to correctly pick three correct outcomes to win.
Nadal, who said he considers himself a casual bettor, likes to wager small amounts on long shots. On Jan. 8, he bet on three NHL games and predicted all three would end in a tie.
At the end of regulation time, the San Jose Sharks and Philadelphia Flyers were tied, as were the Florida Panthers and Carolina Hurricanes, and the Washington Capitals and Minnesota Wild.
Nadal thought he was a winner.
"I guess everyone is looking for the elusive three game tie, which is statistically pretty hard to get," he said. "I hit that and I was obviously pretty excited."
However, when Nadal went to collect his money, he was told he was not a winner.
The Washington Capitals and Minnesota Wild game went to a shootout, but the other two games ended when goals were scored during the overtime period.
Nadal said he was shocked when the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) told him a tie is not a tie until the five minute overtime period is over and the shootout begins.
"That's not really consistent to what a tie is in the rest of the world," said Nadal, adding the NHL considers a game a tie after regulation time and OLG should too.
"In the NHL, each participating team is awarded a point at the end of regulation time (because it’s a tie) and the additional five minutes is the tie breaker," said Nadal.
But the OLG confirmed to CTV News Toronto that with PROLINE Hockey, a tie result includes the overtime period.
"It is based on regulation play plus the five-minute overtime period," a spokesperson told CTV News Toronto. "This means that a hockey game will result in both a tie (based on regulation play plus overtime, but not including a shootout) and a win (based on regulation play plus overtime plus shootout) only if the game goes to a shootout. If a game is settled prior to the shootout (including regulation time and the 5-minute overtime), no Tie result is recorded."
"The current rules for PRO·LINE hockey ties were implemented for the 2005-2006 hockey season to reflect the modifications made to the rules of the game by the governing league at that time."
Nadal feels that is unfair and says OLG should treat tie games the same way the NHL does.
"To be honest I don't think I would be picking ties if I would have originally known this," said Nadal.
The rules for ties are also different for sports such as football and soccer. OLG said sports betting is extremely popular but added the rules can be complex and advises customers to do their homework before placing a bet.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Terrifying': Manitoba resident speaks on wildfire and evacuation
As a pair of wildfires burn near Flin Flon and The Pas, a number of Manitobans are being told to evacuate their homes.
Canucks' Zadorov fined $5,000 for post-game crosscheck on Oilers' McDavid
A Vancouver Canucks defenceman has been given the highest possible fine under the NHL's collective bargaining agreement after a scrum broke out at the end of Game 3 against the Edmonton Oilers Sunday night.
Steve Buscemi punched in the face while walking in N.Y.C.
Hollywood actor Steve Buscemi has been treated for injuries after being punched in the face while walking in New York City.
DEVELOPING Michael Cohen takes the stand as testimony in Trump hush money case enters 4th week
The star prosecution witness in Donald Trump's hush money trial is set to take the stand Monday with testimony that could help shape the outcome of the first criminal case against an American president.
Air quality advisories issued in 5 provinces, 1 territory
Air quality advisories are in effect across Western Canada as smoky conditions plague some areas, according to the latest forecasts. Here's where.
Jerry Seinfeld speech prompts pro-Palestinian demonstration at U.S. university graduation ceremony
A tiny contingent of Duke University graduates opposed pro-Israel comedian Jerry Seinfeld speaking at their commencement in North Carolina Sunday, with about 30 of the 7,000 students leaving their seats and chanting "free Palestine" amid a mix of boos and cheers.
Just how bad are ultraprocessed foods? Here are 5 things to know
Many foods fall under the category of ultraprocessed foods, depending on their exact ingredients. This type of food has been studied a lot lately, and the results aren’t great.
No refund for travellers who cancelled flight already scrapped by airline: regulator
Four years on, the controversy over whether airlines owed refunds to passengers after cancelling hundreds of thousands of flights during the pandemic continues to simmer, aggravated by a sluggish, opaque complaints process.
opinion Harry and Meghan's Nigerian adventure: Traditional attire to warm welcomes
For her latest column on CTVNews.ca, royal commentator Afua Hagan writes about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's recent visit to Nigeria, calling it a 'deeply meaningful campaign' that was about aligning their ongoing efforts to foster mental-health awareness and promoting the Invictus Games.