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Canucks just love a spot of gambling. Whether you’re into sports or esports betting, or Vegas-inspired online casino sites, there are a ton of options to choose from, too – but what are the best gambling sites in Canada?
Well… here’s a question that poses a bit of a problem, due partly to differing iGaming laws across the Great White North’s ten provinces. The good news? Many of you will have no trouble finding awesome iGaming sites you can trust. Though it is important you master how to spot which sites are legit, my guide here reveals how.
Allow me to start with the most important bit. Are online gambling sites even legal in Canada? Well, I’m happy to say yes, but it depends on your province.
I won’t bore you to death by reciting the history books here, but generally most Canadians have enjoyed legal sports betting since 1985, and more recently (in 2021 to be exact), the Canadian government introduced bill C-218 – which basically allows provinces to set their own rules in respect to iGaming.
Today, as is the case in the US and other countries, the situation differs in Canada provincially. If you’re a born-and-bred Ontarian, for example, it’s really good news – regulated sportsbooks have been commonplace for a few years now. However, if you’re a retiree in Vancouver Island, BC, you might only be able to play at a handful of provincially-run sportsbooks or online casinos in Canada. The province’s British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) gets the final say here, basically.
Elsewhere, in the likes of Quebec, Manitoba or Nova Scotia, for example, it’s a similar story – provincial regulators like the Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries Corporation (MLLC), for example, are responsible for licensing, and sometimes even run their very own iGaming platforms themselves.
With all this variation, by far🎰 What services do the best gambling sites in Canada offer?
Whether you’re keen to sink your teeth into a
Canada casino’s no deposit bonus, or you’d much rather drop a few dollars on your favorite ice hockey or baseball team to strike it big at an upcoming event, Canadians have a lot of options, gambling-wise. Depending on your province, you might be able to enjoy:
| Service | What can you expect? |
|---|---|
| Sports betting | Today’s top betting sites offer competitive odds on ice hockey, baseball, NFL, NBA, soccer and a ton of other mainstream markets – as well as slightly more niche fare like golf, darts, and greyhound racing. |
| eSports betting | From Counter Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) to FIFA, a bunch of the Canadian betting sites you’ll see promoted on the banners on this page also offer competitive odds on major and minor esports events. |
| Online casino gaming | Slots, roulette, blackjack, baccarat, and poker are big business in plenty of provinces. Some top-tier sites even offer Vegas-style live dealer experiences to boot. |
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – the best gambling sites in Canada vary from province to province. But don’t worry, I’ve made it as easy as possible for you guys to locate the very best online betting options that are legally available in whatever province you’re visiting me from.
How? Well, all the banners you’ll see promoting online sportsbooks and casinos right here at Jaxon are geo-targeted based on your location. So, just have a look around and enjoy.
Above all else, any sport betting sites in Canada that you decide to sign-up and bet with ought to be properly licensed, as we’ve already seen. But of course, there are other important considerations, too. Here’s what you’ll need to keep firmly in mind when comparing legal iGaming options in your province using my banners:
| Must-have feature | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| A regional iGaming license | Canada takes licensing very seriously. Rules vary significantly from province to province, but one thing pretty much everywhere has in common, is that you’ll only be able to bet with a locally-licensed iGaming site – bet anywhere else, and you’ll be breaking the law. |
| Random Number Generators (RNGs) | If you’ll be playing at digitized casino games, RNG gizmos are essentially clever software that ensures game outcomes are always 100% random and fair. |
| SSL encryption and Two-Factor Authentication (2FA). | SSL protects you and your personal data online. But you knew that already, right? Well, 2FA – which requires an extra verification step – offers you another layer of security on top of that. |
| Responsible gambling options | Any licensed provider that lets you set self-limitations or exclude yourself from their games manually is most likely legit. Look out for sites that offer direct links to responsible gambling organisations, too – you never know when they might come in handy. |
Whether you’re working in Calgary’s buzzing energy sector or are a proud restaurateur up in Montreal, one way to get the absolute most out of iGaming every single time you play is to know what features to expect from the best gambling sites in Canada.
Now, there are a lot of great casino gaming and sports betting websites out there. However, in my opinion, those that stand out most are almost always the ones offering:
Sportsbooks come in different shapes and sizes, and the same goes for their market selections. Many of the top gambling sites in Canada will offer access to a hundred or more different sports or casino game selections that spiral into the thousands. More choices pretty much always equals more fun, right?
Claiming a betting bonus in Canada is a great way to enjoy a budget-friendly taster of what an iGaming platform has to offer before you go depositing hundreds more dollars there.
Many market-leading bookmakers and casinos serve-up free bet bonuses, or free casino spins offers – particularly to first-time customers. Ordinarily, you’ll be able to unlock these by putting down just $10 or $20 as an up-front deposit. Sometimes, you might even be able to bag a bonus that’s available on a “no deposit” basis entirely.
The best gambling sites in Canada run special events on the regular. Think slots tournaments, poker competitions or enhanced or boosted odds on the Superbowl, or other big sporting events. My advice? Take a good, hard look at what kinds of regular tournaments, odds-boosts and the like are offered by a bookmaker before registering with them.
Whether you’re looking at brand new betting sites in Canada or behemoth brands that have been in the business for decades, usability can really make or break an iGaming platform. That said, the best gambling sites in Canada should offer easy-to-use betting tools, fast-loading casino games and intuitive designs. Of course, bonus points go out to platforms that offer dedicated apps for smartphone gamers on the App or Google Play Store, too.
In Canada, casino bonuses shouldn’t be limited solely to sign-up promos and welcome packs. Ideally, you’re going to want to register with iGaming platforms that will look after you for the long-haul. So, keep an eye out for sites that offer VIP or loyalty programs, where you can collect points and exchange these for additional bonuses and rewards. I’d also suggest following betting sites on your socials, to spy the odd promo code drop on FB or Insta.
So, iGaming is legally permitted in many Canadian provinces, but legally speaking, the lay of the land differs depending on where you reside, due to complex differences in provincial licensing laws. Before enjoying a spot of sports betting or online casino gaming where you live, it’s vital to know how to spot which sites are legit. This means looking out for local licenses, SSL encryption, RNG generators and the like.
Once you know what you’re looking for, comparing the best gambling sites in Canada is important, too – and is most easily achieved using the geo-targeted banners on my site. Dig into my tried-and-tested betting comparisons and guides if you need them. And that, my friends, is about it for this guide.
It all depends on where you live. Discover the best sites in your area now.
Many betting sites offer competitive free bet bonuses – sometimes with no deposit requirement. Compare your options using my regionalized guides.
It all depends on where you live. Ontarians, for example, have a ton of options, but players elsewhere might need to play at provincially-managed casino sites. Find out more here…
Players must be 21 years of age or older or reach the minimum age for gambling in their respective state and located in jurisdictions where online gambling is legal. Please play responsibly. Bet with your head, not over it. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, and wants help, call or visit: (a) the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey at 1-800-Gambler or www.800gambler.org; or (b) Gamblers Anonymous at 855-2-CALL-GA or www.gamblersanonymous.org.
