As Canada’s federal elections approach, BetMGM Canada has introduced a range of political betting options, bringing a new level of excitement to political analysis. Although the odds are subject to change, BetMGM currently places a strong bet on Mark Carney to succeed Justin Trudeau as the leader of the Liberal Party and prime minister.
Carney’s odds of becoming the next Liberal leader are an impressive -5000, reflecting his strong momentum and position as a favorite. This prediction is largely based on his rising profile, particularly in the aftermath of US President Donald Trump’s tough tariff policies. Carney, seen as a defender of Canada’s interests, appears poised as a likely successor to Trudeau.
Meanwhile, Chrystia Freeland, the former finance minister, is considered Carney’s main challenger, with +1200 odds to win. Karina Gould, former House leader, follows closely behind. On the other side of the political spectrum, the Conservative Party is favored to secure the most seats in the upcoming federal election, with BetMGM listing them at -325, while the Liberals are at +225.
In addition to the party leadership markets, BetMGM is also offering bets on who will become the next Governor-General of Canada. Chris Hadfield, the astronaut, currently leads the field with odds of +600. Kim Campbell and Jordan Peterson trail with odds of +1000 and +2000, respectively.
Political betting has always sparked debate within the industry. While it remains a niche market compared to major sports betting, the 2020 US elections saw a surge in political betting activity. Critics argue that political betting could undermine democratic values, and some regions have attempted to curb both direct political betting and prediction markets. However, with recent leadership changes in the US, there are indications that political betting might be on the rise in more countries in the near future.
