Denmark’s stunning 2-1 quarterfinal victory over Canada at the World Championships resulted in a significant financial windfall for Danish bettors. Danske Spil, Denmark’s national lottery, reported a payout of 3.3 million kroner due to the unexpected win.

The improbable victory was a major upset, with odds exceeding 20-to-1 against Denmark winning the match outright. At one point, when Canada led 1-0 in the third period, a Danish victory in regulation time offered a staggering 250-to-1 payout. This translates to roughly a 0.4% probability of Denmark winning.

Jesper Gullquist, a bookmaker and ice hockey expert at Oddset, described the victory as one of the most surprising he has ever witnessed. He likened it to the Faroe Islands defeating Argentina in a World Cup match, emphasizing the magnitude of the upset. Nine out of ten Danske Spil customers who bet on the game had wagered on a Danish victory, contributing to the substantial payout.

The 3.3 million kroner payout surpasses the 2.5 million kroner paid out when Jonas Vingegaard won his first Tour de France in 2022. Denmark now advances to the semi-finals, where they will face Switzerland. Danske Spil assesses Denmark’s chances against Switzerland as being better than they were against Canada, with odds of 7.25-to-1 for a Danish victory in regulation time.

In the other semi-final, Sweden will play the USA, with Sweden being favored to win the tournament. Sweden is currently listed at 1.85-to-1 to win the World Championship, while Denmark is a longshot at 22-to-1. Gullquist acknowledges that Denmark faces a difficult challenge against Switzerland and an even tougher one in a potential final against Sweden, especially with Sweden potentially having home-ice advantage.