This week, theScore Bet Sportsbook Ontario introduced the first wave of a multitude of Big Game wagering options around the Super Bowl. The options include lines and game props for individual drives, each quarter and half, and an array of player props. May wagers can be combined into one through the Parlay+ same game parlay feature.
This week, the American Gaming Association said that a record 50 million Americans will wager $16 billion on Sunday’s game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles.
Plenty of Super Bowl Action in Canada
The numbers are going to be big for Ontario betting sites as well. According to a study by the Responsible Gambling Council (RCC), half of Ontario’s ever-expanding regulated sports betting market plans to wager on the game.
This is, of course, the first Super Bowl in an open, regulated, competitive Ontario market. That explains why operators like theScore Bet are being as aggressive as they are in their Super Bowl planning.
With that level of betting interest in the game, having a plan to manage risk is a key to enjoying the game, Responsible Gaming Council CEO Shelley White said.
“The excitement of the big game, being with friends and family, and substance use can all influence how we play,” White said. “And betting more than one can afford to lose can have a devastating impact.”
Survey of Canadian Super Bowl Betting
The RCC survey found that 49% of Ontarians plan to bet on the big game, with 39% believing their sports knowledge gives them an edge on Ontario sports betting apps when it comes to predicting outcomes. That jumps to three-quarters (73%) of those who bet, and nine out of 10 (91%) of those who bet on sports regularly.
The RCC says that false belief can lead to over-confidence and people betting more than they can afford to lose. That increases risk. On top of that, additional risk comes with consumption of substances like alcohol, which can impair judgement and decision-making (77% plan to consume alcohol, cannabis or other substances during the game).
In further survey findings, 74% of respondents said they will watch the game at home, and 53% said they will watch with friends or family. Those who bet say they tend to bet more than usual around friends and family (47%), especially if they are younger (59% of those aged 18-34).
And 25% said they have felt the need to bet more to get to the same level of excitement, with 24% saying they have bet more than they could afford to lose.
Bettors Increasingly Aware of Responsible Gaming
However, the survey also said 88% of this Super Bowl’s bettors plan to use at least one strategy to manage their gambling risk. Those steps include staying within a pre-set betting limit (38%), committing to never betting while intoxicated (24%), and committing to not betting if they feel depressed or anxious (21%).
More than six out of 10 sports bettors (63%) have used at least one responsible gambling feature on sportsbooks at Ontario gambling sites. Among younger players, just more than a fifth (22% aged 18-34) use personalized spending reports (win/loss information, time and money spent) to curb their risk.
“It’s positive to see the majority of Ontario’s sports bettors using the extra bench strength of responsible gambling tools, both on and offline,” White added.
Also, according to the survey, 54% will place a single bet on the outcome of the game, and 24% are betting on each outcome of the game through multiple sportsbooks. Fifty-four per cent say they will bet $50 Canadian or less, 26% say they will bet between $50-$100, and 19% say they will bet $100 or more.
First Touchdown Insurance From BetRivers
The BetRivers Ontario Sportsbook is offering first touchdown insurance. With this option, if the player you wager on to score the game’s first TD does not do so, but does score a TD at any other point in the game, you win a $25 free bet.
OLG Proline is offering a number of new wagering opportunities for the Super Bowl including Boosted Bets, Same-Game Parlays, Mixed sport specials, Novelty Bets and three unique POOLS Cards for the event.
Information on the best Ontario casino apps is here at BetOntario whether you plan to bet on the biggest sporting event in the United States or prefer something else.
The NHL playoffs are fast approaching so Canadian sports fans will again have two months of exciting hockey action leading up to the Stanley Cup final. Bettors can also get in on NBA playoffs, March Madness and much more in the coming weeks.
As for iGaming sites in the province, we offer Ontario slots online reviews so you can see which games you’d like to play.
