Watching sports is one of the many pastimes of most people from across the globe. They love the thrill of watching basketball, soccer, or football games, especially when their favourite team is playing. However what sports do Quebecers love betting on the most?
Just like most sports fans, a Quebecois is no stranger to sports betting. Well, except for horse racing which is widespread across Canada. For those not familiar with the term Quebecois, the word refers to a person living in Quebec. Furthermore, Quebec is the largest province in Canada, where French is the official language rather than English.
If you want to know about the sports typical Quebecers love betting on, then you’re on the right track. Hold on tight, or as they say it in Quebec, “attache ta tuque,” because you’re in for a ride.
Ice Hockey – NHL: Montreal Canadiens
Canadians have a strong relationship with ice hockey. This obsession is rooted in the fact that the game originated in their country. Soldiers from the United Kingdom and other nonnatives brought their stick-and-ball games to Canada and played them on frozen lakes. From then on, they made some improvements until ice hockey was born.
Like other Canadians, Quebecois love their fair share of ice hockey. In fact, the first indoor ice hockey game happened in Montreal, Quebec, on March 3, 1875. Moreover, the National Hockey League (NHL) was established in Montreal on November 26, 1917.
For these facts, Quebec sports betting is wholly engrossed in hockey. Quebecois punters mostly bet on the Montreal Canadiens, the official ice hockey team representing Montreal in NHL. Also called the Habs, they’re one of the oldest NHL members, dating back to the “Original Six” teams.
Nonetheless, even when the Montreal Canadiens are not playing, sports punters cannot get enough betting on ice hockey. Also, besides the NHL, sports bettors in Quebec lightly dabble on international and local hockey betting. Competitions like the Olympics, Worlds Junior, and the National Women’s Hockey League amassed quite a following from bettors.
The je ne sais quoi that makes ice hockey a beloved sport in Quebec is impressive. Canadians also created a betting option called the puck line or the Canadian line. When wagering on the puck line, punters bet on the favourite to win by two goals. Bettors can also win when the underdog loses by a goal.
Soccer – MLS: Impact Montreal
Another sport that Quebecois love betting on is soccer. According to Spencer Davidson, although hockey is well-loved by Canadians, soccer has outranked it as youths prefer it. Moreover, according to Canada Soccer, there are a million registered active participants.
These soccer players are scattered across 1,200 clubs in 13 territorial member associations. One of the associations is in Quebec called the Province of Quebec Football Association.
The Canadian national soccer teams also help in the sport’s popularity. The teams, both men and women, are doing great internationally. In the FIFA World Rankings, the teams are ranked 73rd and 8th, respectively.
Besides being fond of the national teams, Quebecois also look forward to the games of Impact Montreal. Its current name is Club de Foot Montréal, or simply CF Montréal, based in Montreal, Quebec.
The team plays in the Major Soccer League (MLS), founded in 1993 and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation. The league is the highest among the other professional soccer tournaments in the United States and Canada.
Quebecois can bet on soccer during MLS season, which starts either late February or early March and ends mid-October. Sometimes, punters can place their bets during the off-season, but it’s pretty tricky.
American Football – CFL: Alouettes Montreal
Last but certainly not the least is American Football. The sport is a mashup of rugby football and association football or soccer. According to Statista, Canadians love to watch football games. In 2019, 52% of Canadians watched the finals or the main matches during the football season. This data is exceptionally accurate when Canadians are watching the National Football League (NFL).
Canada has also established a league of its own, the Canadian Football League (CFL). CFL kicks off the games by mid-June up to early November, but bettors can still follow them through the offseason. It’s the top professional sports league in the country, which comprises nine teams, one of which is the Alouettes Montreal.
The one reason why Quebecois love to bet on the Alouettes Montreal is their home stadium is in Montreal. The team belongs to the East division of the league and won the Grey Cup championship seven times. The Grey Cup is hockey’s Stanley Cup’s counterpart, making it a prestigious title and award.
Quebec’s sports betting is alive and thriving. There are many sports a Quebecois can bet on, but their betting careers mostly revolve around the three mentioned.
Canada’s French-speaking province has the widest variety of sportsbooks available. Bettors are free to choose what betting method they want to use. Still, no matter what they pick, it’ll be c’est le fun!
Other articles from mtltimes.ca – totimes.ca – otttimes.ca
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