Who says Canadians can't participate in US elections?
No, they can't vote in US elections, but Canadians can place bets on who is going to win.
The British Columbia Lottery Corporation has been taking bets on the 2016 U.S. election since early last year. It's become the most popular wager in an online gaming category the lottery calls "novelty betting."
The provincial lottery contracts with a global sportsbook based in Ireland to set the odds. BC Lottery spokesman Doug Cheng said the odds of a Donald Trump victory have improved since even last week, but the odds makers still favor a Hillary Clinton victory.
"Donald's Trump's odds are currently 37/20 — in other words, slightly under 2 to 1 — to become the next president," Cheng said. "To put it in perspective, he has closed the gap significantly as his initial odds in January 2015 were 100 to 1."
A $5 bet placed on the Democratic nominee Clinton on Monday would pay out $7.10 if she wins in November. The same bet placed on Republican nominee Trump would pay out $14.25 if he wins.
For at least a few more days, Cheng said Canadians can make a long-shot bet on Democrat Bernie Sanders at 59 to 1 odds.
If you're feeling lucky, know that the BC Lottery limits its U.S. election wagers to its own provincial residents over the age of 19.
"You can't bet, but you can definitely vote, which we can't do up here," Cheng said in telephone interview. "That's a trade-off I guess."
The BC Lottery is also taking bets on which political party will triumph in several key battleground states including Florida, North Carolina and Ohio.
"We have always paid a lot of attention to American elections because we are such close neighbors," Cheng said from Vancouver. "The media interest was really ramped up on this particular election. I think you see that reflected in the wagers we're taking on this novelty betting category. I think this really shows that people in B.C. are intently watching the U.S. election south of the border."
The provincial lotteries in Nova Scotia and Manitoba are also offering online wagers on the American presidential election.
Besides traditional state lottery games, the BCLC operates casinos and a sportsbook. British Columbians can bet on Seattle Seahawks and Seattle Mariners games as well as whether the Oregon Ducks, Washington Huskies or some other university team will win next season's college football championship. Bettors can also wager on who will win gold medals at the Rio 2016 Olympics among other things.
In the United States, online gambling is illegal as is betting on elections. Betting on the outcome of sports contests is legal in Nevada. Political betting has been offered in Britain for decades.
BC Lottery profits fund government services and grants to non-profits, much like state lotteries in the United States.
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OH BOY!!! This thread will be very "interesting". Politics anyone?.
They know the fix is in ?!
Put your money on Trump. KingofTax will appear in 3...2...1...
Great article, great idea, have one place to dump the political crap and keep the other threads clean.
Maybe will play their lottery numbers on Powerball...
Went to my class reunion a couple weeks ago, many of the people there I have not seen since the 70's.
The hot topic was not politics, but how the world has changed , and how our kids are growing up .
My son was 2 when Islamic Terrorists flew planes into the world trade center, this is his world to adapt to .
He will never know what was like going to an airport, concert or Hockey game without being searched and scrutinized.
He is living with technology we never dreamed was possible.
Back in our day, the big argument was who's cuter, David Gilmour or Roger Taylor, now everything is an argument.
This Country has gone insane with political correctness, if you disagree, you get a label and depending on the topic, you could be Racist, bigot, hater, homophobe etc.
In our day we watched Little house on the Prairie, the Waltons or a family themed comedy/music show.
Now the TV is filled with reality shows, people in constant conflict, or people living lives that are not even close to real.
Survival shows top the lists.
I guess it doesn't matter who is elected, I was taught to survive long before these shows popped up.
I not only know how to grow food, I hunt, fish and can find food in the forest.
For my son's sake, for the world he has to grow up in, I want a leader who is willing to say and do the things we need, to keep us just a little safer.
Some things you can't control, but we need a leader who can make it harder for those who mean to harm us.
Trump has my vote.
Bingo sully! Things have changed a lot in the last 20 or so years and not all for the better. Both parties are at fault, that's why I'm voting for the "outsider". Now....Lets hit that powerball!
I am neither Republican nor Democrat. I follow my conscience and vote Independent. I vote how I "feel" based on what options I have to choose from. I voted for the Bush family twice. I supported the Bush War. I also voted for Obama twice. I decided last year in 2015 that I would never vote for Hillary Clinton. I considered Donald Trump, until he started running a Hate campaign. Thus, I have rejected Trump. I considered Gary Johnson, but I don't agree with some of his political positions, and he seems to hedge on some issues. I think he would change his mind back and forth like Trump does. I considered Bernie Sanders, but he always comes across like an Angry, Old, "***" Man. Talk about temperament. By process of elimination and default, that leaves Jill Stein of the Green Party. Thus, I will vote for Jill Stein for President in November 2016. I know she won't win, but I will continue to follow my conscience and vote Independent of the norm, when I feel that it is necessary.
If I lived in Canada and were betting on the next US President through the British Columbia Lottery Corporation, I would wager on Donald Trump to win, however, I would vote for Jill Stein for President.
Australia has very strong gun control laws: 0 mass shootings each year.
The US has no gun control laws: hundreds of mass shootings each year.
Pretty clear what the President and congress would need to do.
No doubt- after Todd cleaned house of politics than invaded a thread a little while ago, this should please those who are into politics big time.
They still have violent crimes despite the gun buy back program, murder is murder, you don't need a gun.
Move there, If you don't like it here then leave.
Since your Mister History, tell all the good folks why Japan never invaded us after they bombed Pearl Harbor.
The Emperor wanted a ground invasion until he was told everyone here has a gun.
You are so willing to give up your rights...You are willing to become a subject instead of a citizen.
You want other peoples rights to be taken away, you can't see they are also yours.
You are not a survivor.
The US has hundreds of mass shootings each year? Please go ahead and choose one year and run down the "hundreds" of mass shootings that occurred.
And to say that Australia has no mass shootings is wrong, sorry to burst your bubble.
Besides, if there're no guns available, murderers and terrorists just find another way to kill people. The 84 killed in France by the truck driver terrorist is just one example.
The only thing a gun ban does is take guns out of the common law-abiding citizens' hands. Makes people easy pickings for murderers and terrorists.
You think i play the lottery to win $4? The whole point of me playing the lottery is to get enough money to abandon the United States (although Portland is my fav place in the US) and move to one of five countries (Australia, New Zealand, Canada,Britain or Israel).
The whole point of Pearl Harbor was to delay the US buildup as they bogged down in China and couldn't spare much men to fight the US. You love to spew whatever nonsense you read on " Totally Legitimate Lizard People Network".
Sully I'm surprised that you have weighed in this on this thread. I think you should have kept that to yourself. And now that you have weighed in it shows what your political affiliation is and it also will show that you and your party and people like you don't understand the everyday Americans who gets looked down upon by the millionaires and billionaries and it will not fly with the American people.
From the start of 2016 to today there have been 207 mass shootings
http://www.gunviolencearchive.org/
No mass shootings in Australia in 20 years
http://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/no-mass-shootings-australia-20-years-how-did-they-do-n597091
gun bans are stupid, we need real gun control
one gun shop per congressional district, you must use the one in your district
You must show verified proof of identity, including your birth certificate, passport, and licence
Ban all non-citizens, those with any criminal record, and those under 21 from buying a gun
100% tax on all firearms and bullets
Mandatory 60 day waiting period for each gun purchased.
Mandatory 3 visits to atleast 2 psychiatrists who will verify you are mentally capable of owning a gun at your own expense
No more than 20 rounds can be purchased by an individual
If bringing a weapon outside your district, you must notify the law enforcement in the area you are going to.
Terrorism kills almost no one in comparison to "regular" criminals and mass shooters. The more difficult you make buying it, the less likely they'll be able to get one.
I know it'll never happen but this would end gun violence as we know it.
I admire what I perceive as your stated desire to vote your conscience after discernment. Presumably, part of your decision making process includes informing yourself in an unbiased manner- after all isn't that the great banner of the "independent" voter, that they are the only group able to cut through the Republican and Democrat party claptrap to make an intelligent voting choice. What baffles me is that you label Trump as running a "Hate campaign"; talk about falling into the trap of the crap that the media and Democrat party always place upon the Republican nominee, no matter who it is and which election cycle it is. Seems to me that a critique of Trump may rightfully lead one to conclude that he is not a tried and true Republican and/or that his positions on many issues seem to have evolved/changed over time, but hateful? Everyone recognizes that America has millions of foreign born persons living here without legal status; Trump is a hater because he has stated his desire to stop this illegal action for future persons that would disregard American immigration laws and to also punish in some manner those that are already here illegally? If you are a country without enforceable borders and enforceable laws, what kind of country are you? Further, his stated position to thoroughly vet refugees to insure to the best of our ability that we are not allowing anyone into the country that would cause us harm is hateful? I wish you success in your quest to make an intelligent voting choice but it is my opinion you have more work to do to arrive at an unbiased choice.
That anti-gun website does not follow the common definition of a mass shooting, and is simply propaganda for anti-gun people. Like you.
Hopefully you don't face a murderer on your front porch while waiting 60 days for your firearm. Because the murderer didn't have to wait when they got their illegal firearm.
All of the various things in your post are stepping stones to a complete ban. Not happening in this country. Deal with it.
Put your money on Hillary. Hillary has the Hispanic, Black and White (except for some of the male white voters) voters. Even corporations are pulling away from trump. There was no one special at the RNC convention, oh wait, Scott Baio (chachi) was there.
I hate politics on LP and this story is really stirring up the hornet's nest.
I have the solution...Anyone who uses a gun in a criminal act and takes a life should receive the death penalty. And it should be carried out within two weeks. That would solve the repeat offender problem. Had a gun in my home for years and it hasn't shot anyone yet. Looks like we have a people problem not a gun problem huh?
Keep smoking that weed bigbear.
As a friend of mine jokingly says " Guns are too loud. I prefer a machete. No 60 days background check waiting period."
Sorry, my smoking days are over.
Haha...So are mine.
Somedays, LiveInGreenBay, I wish it was not over.
Yea, but we're smarter than that now.
every graduating high school student should be given "free of charge" not one but two guns. now that is real gun control.
I actually agree with Trump about the Immigration problem, both as it pertains to the Middle East and the Mexican/American border. However, Trump has sabotaged his own public image, calling his character into question. I also question whether or not some of his new policy ideas can pass through both the Congress and the Senate, or is he going to experience serious "stonewall" like previous Presidents. [We already know the answer to this.] The job of US President is a serious Reality Check for anyone.
As long as he doesn't come up with some STUPID Idea that affects the American State Lotteries, I suppose we will have to suffer through 4 years of President Trump.
One thing that does concern me though, is his idea to cut back on funding to the US Department of Education. A lot of college students depend on Federal Financial Aid to attend College. Not every state is using money from the state lottery to fund student college tuition to the extent that they should or could. In some states like SC, lottery funding only kicks in after certain types of Federal Financial Aid or other State Financial Aid, and lottery money can only be used for certain college expenses, not for any or everything related to college.
The following comes from a local College website [Community College] pertaining to the use of Lottery Money to fund College Tuition Expenses:
"The amount you can use toward tuition and fee charges is based on the amount of these charges remaining on your account after Federal Pell Grant, FSEOG, SCNBG and NGCAP have been applied to your student account. If you receive a LIFE Scholarship or a tuition waiver, you will not receive LTAP. If your tuition and fees are paid by VA, you will not receive the LTAP award. [LTAP = Lottery Tuition Assistance Program]
Bullet points #1 & #2 seem to contradict each other.
In the city where I live at, for some reason [???], only the local Community Colleges are receiving State Lottery Assistance. The local 4 year Colleges are Not.
In any case, if Federal College funding is cut, where does that leave the states and students who cannot otherwise afford a College Education.
I really don't think Donald Trump has given some of his ideas any in depth contemplation. He is only looking at the "larger picture" [Balance the Budget], but we live our lives by "daily snapshots" of the larger picture, and each person's larger picture is DIFFERENT.
Donald Trump could potentially ruin the "larger picture" for students who can't afford a College Education without Federal Financial Aid, b/c state lottery assisted funding for College is suspect in some states.
The sky-is-falling junk commentary about Trump is similar to the he's-dangerous junk commentary that Reagan received during the 1980 campaign vs. Carter. (For those of us old enough to remember that.)
It's ironic that all the people going around saying how "scary" Trump is are the very people doing the fear mongering themselves.
Personally, I'm not fear-mongering, I'm observing.
No, posting that junk commentary tweet was fear mongering. If you were observing you would have read it without re-posting it here. You are participating.
Todd, you are very Doloris Umbridge today. No fun.
At least you didn't call me Voldemort.
Shhhh, we don't say his name
Trump is by far the greatest Teflon candidate for president we have ever seen.Lesser politicians would have been history for saying the following:
We Need a Wall. McCain is no hero.
Say what you will, the guy has a pair.
Don't worry Mr,Trump is going to WIN BIG
Convential wisdom says " if a person tells you not to worry, it's best to prepare yourself to do just that : worry. The Russians told the world " don't worry, we have the Chernobyl Nuclear site under control..
Don't worry - right!
If you really want out that bad
you could take a bus to Canada...don't need a lottery win for that.
Omg. For once I agree with you.
A perfect response. Reagan was unfairly demonized.
We have this woman in my office who does zero work all day and posts vile anti Trump statements on Twitter all day long while telling us how hip and liberal she is. And no, she is not young and everyone hates her since she is the biggest bigot of all. Yet I would never consider posting things about Hillary.
And I know the tide has turned when another ranting neighbor at my bus stop could not even speak when she saw the most recent Trump polls.
LOL Guess you haven't been here long enough to know me, most know I am conservative.
I understand everyday people very well, I know many millionaires , most are self made and have hearts of gold and are very generous. Yes, some people are very snobby, poor people are snotty mean and rude as well. Depends on how you were raised.
You have a biased media pounding the Class wars into your head. You are here because you want to win the lottery and become rich, will it change who you are?
Good rule of thumb, never judge a book by it's bank account and if you really want to soil yourself, go read my blogs.