Super Bowl fans wager on just about anything
Online gambling, from the number of TD passes to the length of the national anthem
The clock is ticking down to the Super Bowl opening kickoff, with many football fans wagering not only on the game itself, but also some of the more obscure parts of the sporting spectacle.
Edmonton’s Tim Huang was bellowing out the American anthem in his living room this week, trying to determine how long it will take Renée Fleming to sing the national anthem on Sunday so he can place a bet on it.
“It’s fun to say that you put money on something as obscure as the national anthem,” Huang said.
Other bets include what colour Gatorade will poured on the winning coach, or whether U.S. President Barack Obama will make a pick for the game during a pregame interview.
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Canadians spend billions of dollars on offshore gaming websites each year even though it's technically illegal to do so.
Some provinces such as British Columbia have chosen to capitalize by running their own websites.
B.C. Lottery Corporation spokesman Chris Fairclough said people can bet on everything from who is going to take the opening kick, to how many touchdown passes Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning will throw.
“Last year in B.C. we saw about $275,000 wagered in one day on the Super Bowl,” said Fairclough.
As for Huang, he plans to make around 20 bets this year.
"It is a running joke. My friends will still be watching the game and they think it is over, but I am still intently watching,” he said.
Click on the video above to see Briar Stewart’s report