Loto-Qubec taking bets on U.S. presidential race

Think your keen political knowledge is astute enough to predict the outcome of the American election?

If you're right, you could be cashing in through Quebec's state-run gaming corporation.

For the first time in its history, Loto-Qubec is taking bets on who will be the next leader of our neighbours to the south.

It's at leastthe thirdgovernment-run lottery corporation in Canada to get in on the game.

The British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) began taking bets on the U.S. election a year ago. A spokeswoman for BCLC said in an emailthatthrough PlayNow.com, the agency is offering wagers on the winner of the U.S. race, the winner of both theDemocratic and Republican nominations and several other categories, including gender balance on the 2016 tickets.

Earlier this month, the Atlantic Lottery Corporation announced it would be taking wagers on the winners in the November election.

Loto-Qubec's 4 questions

Loto-Qubec is taking bets on four questions:

• Who will winthe Democratic and Republican nominations?
• Which party will win the election?
• Who will be the next president of the United States?

According to the lottery corporation, return rates will range from 70 per cent to 90 per cent depending on the question.

Loto-Qubec spokesmanPatrice Lavoiesaid experts haveanalyzed the starting odds.

"Clinton has a lower quote than Donald Trump. So that means, according to research, she has more [of a]chance to win than Donald Trump," Lavoie said.

Thestarting oddsare:

• Clinton win $1 bet = $1.75 win.
• Trump win $1 bet = $3.75 win.
• Democrats $1 bet = $1.55 win.
• Republicans $1 bet= $2.15 win.

Lavoie says those odds will obviously change between now and voting day.

The bets are being collected through Loto-Qubec's Mise-o-jeusports-betting operation and werelive as of 10 a.m. ET.

Loto-Qubec is also taking wagers on the winners of the Oscars.

The Democratic and Republican national conventions are both slated for July. The election is scheduled to take place Nov. 8.