Blue Jays’ MLB Run Puts Canadian Bookies at Risk — Odds Fall From 21 to 2

Ontario is experiencing one of its most intense sports-betting seasons since legalization — all because of the Toronto Blue Jays, whose unexpected surge in Major League Baseball (MLB) title contention has left bookmakers on edge.

At the start of the season, the odds on the Blue Jays to win the American League (one of MLB’s two conferences) were 21.0. But a string of victories has dramatically shifted the landscape: betting volumes have soared as Canadian punters, traditionally loyal to national teams, rush to back their hometown club.

A similar story played out in 2019, when the Toronto Raptors won the NBA title — their preseason odds were 19.0.

“I went through the same thing with the Raptors in 2019. By October, bookmakers could be staring at seven-figure losses,” said Phil Gray, former head of trading at Canadian sportsbook Sports Interaction.

According to traders from major operators, if the Jays go all the way and capture the championship, this could become one of the most expensive seasons in Canadian betting history. The situation has been compared to Leicester City’s historic 2016 Premier League triumph — only this time, the volume of wagers is higher and the potential impact even greater.

As of yesterday, the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the New York Yankees in the American League semifinals to take a 2–0 lead in the series. They need just two more wins to advance, and currently sit as favorites to win the American League title with odds of 2.15.