Canadians Bet Big as Edmonton Oilers’ Momentum Continues

Canadian hockey aficionados’ hype is reaching unprecedented highs as the Edmonton Oilers seem ready to go to the Stanley Cup finals. As it turns out, some three in five Ontarians are preparing to back he Canadian team.

Oilers to Get a Rematch Against the Panthers  

Last year, the Florida Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers met in a historic game that resulted in a victory for the Panthers. Many Canadian fans, however, are hoping that this year, the Oilers would be the ones to emerge victorious.

As the championship progresses, it seems that the Oilers facing off against the Panthers once again is inevitable.

As it turns out an overwhelming majority of Canadian bettors are likewise counting on the Oilers to secure a final victory. While the Edmonton team failed to secure a victory last year, its fans are convinced that the 2025 season will see it turn things around.

How Much Players Bet?

According to recent data from Ontario’s Responsible Gambling Council, approximately three in five people planned to watch the playoffs. At the same time, 41% of the people told the council that they planned to wager on the playoff games.

Additional data from the council showed that 39% of all respondents have engaged in betting at least once in the past year. As it turned out, over a quarter informed the council that they planned to borrow money or sell something to get funds to gamble. Even more concerningly, 38% of respondents admitted that gambling has been causing them concerns and that they believe they might be experiencing problem gambling.

Roughly half of all players reported betting online. In the meantime, 29% said they bet with loved ones. The same number of respondents also said that they engage in sports-based lottery tickets. A fifth of the respondents, meanwhile, said they bet in a pool.

Approximately half of all respondents do not plan on betting over CAD 100. At the same time, 9% told the council that they plan to bet more than CAD 500.

Some 48% said that betting increased their engagement in sports and 47% said that they bet to win. In the meantime, 22% said they bet because they understood sports and 21% said that they bet because they felt confident in winning.

In any case, the RGC encouraged fans to wager moderately and urged them to never bet what they cannot afford to lose.