Raptors NBA Championship Trophy Brings British Columbia Sports Bettors a Windfall

This month is a special one for all basketball fans across Canada, as the Toronto Raptors managed to climb their way to the top and defeat the leading Golden State Warriors. Just like every other sports event, this one also offered the opportunity of winning big via betting on it. Estimations are that British Columbia sports enthusiasts have bagged over CA$250,000 as a result of their winning bets on the Raptors.

The past weeks were heated ones, as Canadians were preparing for the clash of titans at the arena. Game 6 took place last Thursday and June 13 would forever be remembered as the day when the Raptors became NBA champions. After 24 years of preparation and bracing for this moment, the players were able to make it to the top and make their entire nation proud to call themselves Canadians.

Sports Betting Online in B.C.

Following nine coaches and more than 940 wins, the Toronto Raptors made it to their ultimate goal all along – to bring the Larry O’Brien Trophy where it belongs. The triumphant team managed to defeat the reigning Golden State Warriors after striking 114 points against the 110 marked by their rivals. This guaranteed the Raptors the throne at the NBA championship and a nation-wide pride.

British Columbia players were among the most active when it comes to supporting their favorite basketball team. This could happen both via watching the live games and by wagering on their outcome online. British Columbia Lottery Corporation offers this chance to everyone interested thanks to its PlayNow platform offering betting on live events.

Game 6 was among the ones to attract the most attention from local enthusiasts. According to the publicly issued information on the subject, bettors have been able to bag more than CA$250,000 in cash from their successful bets on the Toronto Raptors winning their first-ever championship. This was possible via the online platform that is the sole regulated online betting area on a provincial level.

More than CA$250K Bagged

The lottery corporation revealed that more than 1,000 individuals were eager to place their bets on the live game and potentially win big from their fair judgment of the professional players. Even though the Raptors were not among the most likely to claim the trophy, their supporters were eager to showcase their trust. Records show that the betting commenced as early as July 2018.

British Columbia enthusiasts were willing to place their bets back then when the Raptors boasted odds of 49/1. This means that bettors were ready to wager almost a year earlier in order to reserve their spots for this iconic battle. Gambling on sports events on offshore sportsbooks deprives the province of much needed financial allocations that are later invested in various local projects.

• Canadians Spend Up to CA$110M on Offshore Sportsbooks

For the time being, the federal government has not regulated single-event sports wagering. This makes the activity much more appealing not only to British Columbians, but also Ontarians. Ontario’s Progressive Conservative Government recently proposed scrapping of the current monopoly on online gaming and introducing more players to the mobile wagering field.

• New York Launches Sports Betting this August

In addition to that, the budget blueprint also proposes that single-event sports wagering is regulated within the province, as to make it competitive to New York and to retain CA$110 million annually from going to offshore sportsbooks.