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Narrowing down the best sports betting sites in Canada is a cinch. No, really – I’m going to show you exactly what to look out for over the course of this guide.
Though to be fair, all you really need to know can be summarized as follows: the ten Canadian provinces have different rules, so it’s important to ensure that: a) you live in a sports betting-friendly region and b) you only ever bet with locally-licensed operators. Allow me to explain in more detail…
Before I break down the legal side of things, let me briefly introduce the best (and worst) aspects of using the best sports betting sites in Canada to fuel your sports betting fun. Generally speaking, these are:
In some way, shape or form, Canadians have been betting on sports since the mid-1980s. But of course, like most things in the modern world, it’s all online these days.
Basically, if you live somewhere where sports betting is legal, you can start backing your favorite sports teams at anything from the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs to the UK’s soccer Premier League, using the betting sites you’ll see displayed on this page – and I’m going to show you how.
But as I said in my intro, one huge consideration before looking into the best sports betting sites in Canada is whether or not legal sports betting is actually offered in your province.
To be fair, most provinces and territories at least offer some kind of legal online sports betting options, but these differ considerably from place to place. The good news? You’ll find geo-targeted ads and banners promoting the top sites and betting apps in Canada that are legally available in your region right here on this page.
Having said that, I’d argue it’s still essential to understand local laws before you dive in.
Canada is a big place. And that, my friends, is why the law isn’t so straightforward here. If you know anything about the laws governing sports betting sites in the US, where state-level licenses are required on a place-by-place basis, Canada’s outlook is very similar.
You see, in August 2021, a landmark single-game sports betting law known as Bill C-218 (or the “Safe and Regulated Sports Betting Act”) was passed. To break through the legalese, this Bill basically pushed the power over to individual provincial governments to decide how to manage single-event sports betting in their territories. Ever since then…
I like to keep things as simple as possible for you guys, so I’ve put together a province-by-province table that contains everything you need to know about gambling regulations from region to region. Below, I run through what’s what – and where:
| Province | Is online gambling legally available? | What kinds of online gambling activities have been legalized? |
|---|---|---|
| Ontario | Yes. | Single-game sports betting and live poker. |
| Quebec | Yes. | Single-game sports betting. |
| British Columbia | Yes. | Parlay and single-game sports betting – but only at sites operated by the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC). |
| Alberta | Yes. | Online sports betting – but only at sites regulated by the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis organization. |
| Saskatchewan | Yes. | Sports betting is legal, but no provincial betting services currently exist. |
| Manitoba | Yes. | Sports betting, lottery, poker, and online casino games – but only via sites run by the Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries Corporation (MLLC). |
| New Brunswick | Yes. | Online sports betting, casinos, and poker – but only at locally regulated platforms. |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Yes. | Sports betting – but only at outfits licensed by the Atlantic Lottery Corporation. |
| Nova Scotia | Yes. | Parlay bets offered by the Atlantic Lottery Corporation only. |
| Prince Edward Island | Yes. | Single-game sports betting |
| Yukon | No. | Only retail betting is available. |
| The Northwest Territories and Nunavut | No. | Only retail betting is available. |
Satisfied? Great. So, let’s get to the good bit already…
If you guys came here looking for the top 20 betting sites in Canada right now, you might be surprised to learn that, depending on where you live, some Canucks have access to more sites than others, and the options available vary by province. So, which betting brands are best where you live?
Well… I’m sure you’ve already noticed that on this very page, there’s a whole bunch of banners for sport betting sites. And guess what? Everything you see is 100% available in whichever province you’re visiting me from.
In short, the Canada betting sites list you’ll see here is based entirely on your location. This means, in a nutshell, that every betting brand on it holds a license where you live – and is a-okay to bet at.
So, all the Canada gambling sites on my banners have been thoroughly checked-out by myself and are ripe for action in your region. But what if you decide to go shopping around further afield?
Well, in that scenario, it’s absolutely vital you only ever sign yourself up for sites that offer the following must-haves:
I know I’ve been banging on about this a lot, but it’s important. It doesn’t matter whether you’re registering with fresh-to-market, new betting sites in Canada or brands that have been in iGaming since before Bill C-218 first dropped, finding a site with the right license is crucial – and this should be the main thing you guys take away from this guide.
The best (and fastest) way to spot trusted brands that fit the bill is, of course, to use the banners on my site to narrow down what are already trusted options. Failing that, you can usually find any betting site’s licensing details by scrolling to the bottom of their homepage and looking out for a stamp from the likes of:
Don’t forget that, depending on where you’re betting from, your only options might be betting sites that are actually run by the regulators themselves.
Mad for the NHL? Prefer a spot of tennis betting at Wimbledon, or the odd flutter on your favorite horse? For obvious reasons, you need to make sure any betting brands you’re eyeing up offer access to your favorite sports – and with competitive odds, too.
Clicking through to visit any of the betting brands in my bookmaker list for Canada will take you either directly to their site, or to my recent in-depth reviews of their latest sportsbook offerings. From there, you can compare what markets they currently offer to bettors in your province. My advice? Cross-reference odds between providers to see who’s offering the best deals.
Two aspects of iGaming that I find are often overlooked by my readers are data encryption and responsible gambling. Now, the long and short of it is, the best betting sites in Canada absolutely must offer:
The first two are essential in terms of protecting you and your personal data (think sensitive bank or credit card information) online. And the third? Well, you never know when you might need support – so it’s always good to have these tools and resources handy.
I’ve been through the essentials, but what about the desirable features that the best sports betting sites in Canada ought to have? Things that make the top sites stand out from the competition? Well, a few great extra features you should try to find and take advantage of, include:
Securing a sports betting bonus when registering with a new betting brand can really crank up the fun from day one. Unlocking free bets from the outset is undoubtedly the best way to sample a bookmaker’s sportsbook before diving headfirst into everything else they have to offer. Common welcome bonuses in Canada, include:
I’ve written pretty exhaustive guides about all these different kinds of betting bonuses for Canada elsewhere on my site, so I won’t bang on too much about them here. What I will say, though, is that while bonuses are always good fun, you’ll need to watch out for things like wagering requirements, time limits, and game restrictions whenever you claim a free bet offer – cautious optimism is always key.
Unless you’ve managed to bag access to Canadian free betting sites that’ll let you get started with a no deposit bonus, you’re probably going to have to part with some cash before you can start betting with your new bookmaker. And in the longer-term, you’re definitely going to have to.
Of course, the best sports betting sites in Canada should offer several deposit and withdrawal options. On top of that, it goes without saying that these options should be widely-recognized credit card brands, e-wallets and money transfer apps you can trust, like VISA, MasterCard or Apple Pay, for example. Some top tips from me would be to also try to spot sites that offer:
Perhaps the only thing more thrilling than betting on your favorite sports leagues and events in Canada from the comfort of your own home is having the capability to chop and change your bets in-real-time as the game action unfolds. Many betting brands out there offer intuitive live betting tools – and some up-the-ante even more by letting bettors watch live streams of the day’s biggest games.
What’s more, many of the best sports betting sites in Canada – including those you’ll see promoted in my banners – offer easy-to-use smartphone apps, meaning you can enjoy all this from the palm of your hand. Just make sure that, if you’re downloading an app, you only ever do so from a reputable source, like:
Wrapping your head around the legal side of sports betting in the Great White North is a bit of a chore, but once you understand what’s what (legally), it couldn’t be easier to find a reputable betting brand you can trust. Some food for thought, though. The best sports betting sites in Canada always need to be licensed and regulated at a provincial level.
They also absolutely must be safe from a cyber security standpoint and offer you easy access to responsible gambling tools. But of course, what makes a Canadian betting site really stand out from the crowd is its bonuses, payment options and live betting or streaming capabilities. So, why not look around the banners on my site to locate legal betting brands in your area that tick all the right boxes now?
It is in a lot of places, but provincial licensing laws apply. The good news? Finding the best sports betting sites in Canada is easy. Just take a look at my trusted reviews, comparisons and iGaming guides to find out how.
Canadians have a ton of different betting strategies to choose from – some of which may suit you better than others. One of my personal favorites is to watch games unfold before your very eyes and put down real-time live bets based on the ever-changing dynamics of a match. But of course, to do that, you’ll first need to find betting brands that offer in-play odds using my bookmaker comparisons.
I’m a little sad to say that this question is something of a tough cookie. You see, the legal options available to bettors differ from province to province, so there’s no one straight answer. On the upside, the lists and banners you’ll see on my site will reveal the hottest bookmakers in your area the very second you pay me a visit.
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.
