As the Toronto Blue Jays prepare to face the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of the World Series, Ontario fans are letting their hearts — not the odds — guide their wagers. Despite being the statistical underdogs, more than 80 per cent of bets placed by Ontarians on FanDuel predict a Blue Jays victory in the series opener Friday nigh
According to a FanDuel Canada spokesperson, most bettors across the province are backing the home team even though the platform’s own odds give the Dodgers a roughly 60 per cent chance to win, compared to just 44 per cent for the Jays.
Experts say this betting pattern is less about logic and more about love for the team. Michael Naraine, associate professor of sports management at Brock University, said it’s typical for fans to “conflate their fandom with betting,” even when the numbers don’t support it. “Betting inherently is not a fandom activity,” he said. “It is a probability-based mathematical equation.” Still, Naraine added, that doesn’t mean these fans are being entirely irrational. Because the Jays are the underdogs, a successful $100 bet on them would bring a bigger payout than the same bet on the Dodgers — giving fans both emotional and financial incentive to believe.
Some even hedge their bets emotionally. Naraine recalled wagering $250 against the Jays during their Game 7 matchup with Seattle earlier in the playoffs. “I lost the money,” he said, “but I still got to celebrate the win.”
The betting trend is consistent with how Ontario fans behaved during the American League Championship Series against Seattle. According to FanDuel data, between 85 and 95 per cent of Ontario bets favoured the Jays across all seven games, even when the Mariners statistically had the upper hand.
Sports betting consultant and Osgoode Hall Law School instructor Harley Redlick noted that while some gamblers carefully study odds, most simply “bet the favourite.” However, he said, super fans — especially those close to home — tend to put emotion first. “You’ll see that bias most among the hometown crowd,” Redlick explained, “and least among neutral bettors, like someone in Iowa deciding who might win.”
While wagering adds excitement to the World Series, both experts caution fans to play responsibly. “Gamble responsibly, and only bet what you’re willing to lose,” Naraine said. “Ultimately, the house always wins.”