The Best Betting Sites in Canada – Top Canadian Sportsbooks for 2024

While sports betting in Canada may seem to be a confusing and highly limited activity, there are still plenty of legal Canadian sportsbooks that accept wagers on sports. In this guide, we have provided recommendations for the best betting sites in Canada so you can enjoy the safest and fairest offers.

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Best Betting Sites in Canada

Bet at Safe Bookies Verified by our Reviewers

Sports

Available Leagues and Events

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Top Bonuses and Promotions

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How to Trust a Betting Website

Gambling Resorts

Payout Levels in Canada

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Canadian Sports Betting Apps

In this guide to the top sports betting sites in Canada, we will cover everything from the kinds of bets that are legal, the payment options bettors have and the laws surrounding gambling in the country. By reading on, you will give yourself the most valuable knowledge to bet on sports in Canada.

Top 9 Sports Betting Sites in Canada

In order to create our list of the best sports betting sites in Canada, we have thoroughly checked, tried and reviewed every available bookie in the country. This has given us a valuable insight into the sports betting market in Canada so that we can provide the most informed, high-quality recommendations.

In the table below, we have listed the top bookies in Canada. In order to create this shortlist, we utilized strict criteria that tested the most important facets of what a bookmaker should offer. As you’ll see, each bookmaker has different perks, whether that be more generous welcome bonuses or more betting options.

The most important thing to consider is that every single one of the above bookmakers has a good reputation in the betting community, is respected by industry leaders and is licensed. Each is unique and have their own strengths, so see below for the best online betting sites in Canada by category.

Best Betting Sites in Canada by Category:
Best Betting Site in Canada Betway
Highest Payout Bookie 888sport
Top New Site in Canada Betiton
Best PayPal Betting Site 888sport
Best for Bonuses Betsafe
Top Mobile App Unibet
Best eSports Betting Website Betsafe
Best for Live Betting 22Bet
Top for Extra Features Bethard

At this point, the number of top sports betting sites in Canada may seem overwhelming and it might be hard to decide which is the best to open an account with. In the upcoming section, we will explain our criteria in further detail, and reveal how different bookies may appeal to different bettors depending on their tastes and preferences.

If you aren’t in the habit of checking sports betting news, we highly recommend you start doing this now. By staying up to date with current sporting events and news about sports betting in Canada and around the world, you will be able to bet more wisely. You can find links to the latest news below.

The Criteria for Finding the Best Online Bookmakers in Canada

If you’re wondering why exactly we’ve decided that our recommended sports betting sites are the best, there are a number of reasons. We’ve created our criteria based on our years of experience in the industry as well as by listening to the online gambling community about what is most important to them.

The criteria include elements such as a bookmaker’s safety and security features, its betting options, it’s mobile compatibility and its reputation. Below, you can find each of the categories, and jump ahead to the section that is most relevant to you. Otherwise, continue scrolling to learn the importance of each one.

Sports and Leagues

Canadians are known the world over for being passionate about sports, especially those that involve ice or cold weather. For a betting market to be good, it should offer a wide array of sports and events to bet on. Thankfully, sports betting sites in Canada provide plenty of betting options, including on some of the most popular sports.

Hockey: NHL, Playoffs

There is no doubt that hockey sport betting is Canada’s favorite national sport betting event. For over a century, Canadians have dominated the sport, and roughly one-quarter of the National Hockey League’s teams come from the country. The Stanley Cup is the prized trophy for NHL, with the Montreal Canadiens having won the cup the most.

Basketball: NBA, Finals

While Canadians have their own basketball league, basketball betting sites in Canada take the most best on NBA games. Canada is well-represented in the league by some top-notch basketball talent. The Finals series inspires the most basketball bets in Canada, with the Championship game the most anticipated game for bettors and fans.

American Football: NFL, Super Bowl

As one of the most popular sporting events for the American football betting sites in the world, it should come as no surprise that the NFL Super Bowl is hugely popular in Canada. There are plenty of Canadian players in the league that have done their country proud, and Canadian bettors are quick to bank on them at every game.

MMA: UFC, Main Events

Just as in the United States and the UK, Canadians have gone crazy for MMA sport betting. As pay-per-view viewership continues to climb for the UFC, so do bets. Recent years have seen Main Event betting records smashed in both Canada and the United States. We expect betting interest to continue to climb in Canada.

Baseball: MLB, World Series Championship

Although baseball may not be as popular as some of the other sports, baseball sport betting sites take plenty of wagers in Canada during the Major League Baseball Series. This is due to the fact MLB frequently airs games, making it the perfect game to follow for regular bettors. Of particular interest to Candian bettors is the World Series Championship.

Golf: Major Championships

Canadians regular participate in golf sport betting. The Major Championships are particularly exciting draws for golf bettors, with events including the US Open and the PGA Championship some of the most exciting events in the golf calendar year. Golf games will almost always appear in sports betting site betting categories.

The above-listed sports and events are only six of what Canadian betting operators allow. There are in fact plenty more sports to bet on at the average Canadian betting site, whether that be local or international events or even cricket betting!. These may differ from province to province, but there should always still be a wide variety.

In our reviews of the best bookies, we not only considered whether the most popular events and sports were considered, but we also considered the number of obscure events such as TV Show or Political bets available. We were happy to find that many Canadian betting sites impressed us in the offered sports category.

Payout, Odds and Lines at the Best Bookies

Before you start betting, it’s important to understand how payouts, odds and line bets work. In Canada, sports betting odds may be displayed in one of three different ways. The most common system is the American odd system which uses a plus or minus symbol in front of a number to indicate how much you need to bet to win $100.

Fractional odds are displayed as having the denominator (lower number) show how much needs to be bet to win the numerator (top number). Decimal odds are also very common and the easiest to understand. These show how much money would be won per $1 bet. For example, a $100 bet at 2.09 will bring in $209.

Line bets are a kind of bet that takes into account handicaps on teams placed by bookmakers. To find which are the best odds bookmakers in Canada, we’ve calculated the average payouts of the most popular betting sites in the country. Below, we’ve listed the best betting sites in Canada for payout rates so that you can get the most bang for your buck.

Payout rates indicate how much a bookmaker is likely to payout on bets. Keep in mind that these rates are different from sport to sport and will fluctuate constantly before a sporting event commences. The best bookmakers’ odds will be fair representations of the market so are well worth searching for.

Betting Offers: Bonuses and Betting Sites Promotions

Finding a good welcome bonus is often the first step to signing up for a new online betting platform. These betting offers are important as they allow you to try the bookmaker with a set budget and minimal investment, and prove how generous a bookmaker may be. Below, we’ve listed the top betting welcome bonuses in Canada.

Canadian Betting Site Welcome Bonus Deposit Features Rating Secure Link T&C’s
Up to C$200 Deposit Match 5x 7 days 1.75 4.9/5 Visit Site! Full T&Cs Apply! New customer offer. Please gamble responsibly. 18+
Bet C$15 Get C$10 1x 14 days 2.00 4.8/5 Visit Site! Full T&Cs Apply! New customer offer. Please gamble responsibly. 18+
Up to C$200 100% on First Deposit 30x 60 days 1.50 4.7/5 Visit Site! Full T&Cs Apply! New customer offer. Please gamble responsibly. 18+
100% Deposit Bonus up to $100 6x 30 days No minimum 4.6/5 Visit Site! Full T&Cs Apply! New customer offer. Please gamble responsibly. 18+

There are several common types of betting offers that you may find when you sign up with a new sportsbook. Among the most popular are first-time deposit matches, cashbacks, bookmakers’ free bets and bet credits. Each offer has its own perks depending on how you like to bet.

Bonus Category Betting Site
🥇 Best Bonus in Canada Betway
🥈Top Deposit Matches Betiton
🥉 Best Promotions 888sport
◻️ Top Free Bets 888sport
◻️ Best Cashback Offers Unibet

However, before you’re too quick to try and claim a welcome bonus, there are a few factors that are well worth taking the time to consider when using Canadian betting sites. Firstly, always read the terms and conditions before you sign up with any bookmaker for a welcome bonus. These fine-print details may have a larger impact on how valuable the bonus is.

For example, you’ll want to look at the wagering requirements, validity and minimum odds that you can use your bonus on. Wagering requirements dictate how much you must use your bonus funds before you can withdraw winnings from them, validity determines how long bonuses last for and minimum odds will require you to bet on less favourable odds.

Additionally, check the betting site’s promotions page to see if the bookie offers more bonuses after the welcome bonus. Offers such as existing customer reload bonuses, VIP programs and odd increases indicate that the site takes care of its existing customers. It’s worth mentioning that all of our best bookie recommendations do this.

Type of Bets

When it comes to the types of bets that are offered in Canada and online sportsbooks, this can differ according to the province that you are located in. This is because Canada’s betting laws are determined at both the federal and provincial level. One thing that is certain, though, is that single bets are allowed at licensed Canadian bookmakers since 27 August 2021.

Despite this, the best sportsbooks in Canada still provide numerous betting options, including totals and parlays. It’s important that you sign up with a bookmaker that offers a wide range of betting types as it ensures that your experience will be kept fresh and exciting. Below are the most common bet types in Canada.

It’s important to realize that every player will be interested in different bet types, so it’s worth taking the time to discover what your preferences are. The best betting sites in Canada will provide all legal options for you so you can try different options, improve your skills and in turn, improve your chances of winning.

Safety and Security

It’s an unfortunate fact that many scammers target bettors and bookmakers in order to steal players’ personal details. That’s why when it comes to any form of online gambling, your highest priority should be security. There are several ways to determine what the safest online betting sites are.

Firstly, you’ll want to confirm that your bookmakers are using SSL encryption technology to safeguard your private details and financial information. The best way to do that is to review whether the bookmaker is licensed by a reputable licensing authority, as encryption is a necessity for bookies to earn a license.

Safety Partners at Online Sports Betting Sites in Canada

We will only ever promote bookmakers that have earned an official license at a reputable licensing jurisdiction. Licensing proves that the bookmakers are using the best data encryption technology to protect the sensitive data of their customers.

Top Data Safety and Encryption Companies
  • RapidSSL
  • GoDaddy
  • DigiCert
  • Symantec
  • Thawte
  • Comodo
  • GeoTrust
Responsible Gambling Organizations
  • Responsible Gambling Council
  • GameSense
  • PlaySmart
  • Center for Addiction and Mental Health
  • GamTalk
  • Gamblers Anonymous

Another important element that licensing requires is the implementation of responsible gambling systems into sports betting sites. This technology is designed to recognize when customers are exhibiting problem gambling behaviour, reach out to them when it expects this and guide them toward self-exclusion or other avenues of help.

In most cases, a betting site will include a number of logos at the bottom of its homepage for different problem gambling organizations. It’s also a legal requirement for the website to display its licensing information somewhere easy to find. By checking the licensing number with the relevant authority, you can confirm whether or not the website is trustworthy.

Bet on Mobile with the Best Sports Betting App

It’s no longer enough for online bookmakers to only offer their products on desktop platforms. The current market has shown that everyday bettors are turning to their mobile devices to place wagers. This is why when evaluating a good bookmaker, it’s essential that it offers a Canadian betting app on both iOS and Android devices.

When we’re judging a betting app, we’re not just looking at how functional it is, although this is extremely important. We also want to see that the app works just as well, if not better than the desktop version. Below, we’ve listed Canada’s best sports betting apps according to our different grading criteria.

Top Canadian Betting Apps

In the very best mobile betting apps, you are also able to watch sporting events live as they are unfolding. This makes for both an exciting feature when you’ve already placed bets, as well as helps you to make live bets. In the following section, we’ll discuss live betting and streaming in Canada.

Live Betting & Live Streaming

It is completely legal to bet on live events in Canada. This means that you are able to continually bet on the outcome of games as they unfold, with odds constantly changing until live sports betting is closed by the operator. This can be a particularly exciting way to bet on NFL, NBA, hockey and golf games.

If you are yet to try the live betting experience, we highly recommend it. In order to help get you started, we have provided a list of the best live betting sites in Canada. As you’ll find, each site offers bets for different sporting events and may not accept live bets for everything.

Live Betting Site Welcome Bonus Live Features Rating Secure Link T&C’s
Up to C$200 Deposit Match 350+ Yes Yes 4.9/5 Visit Site! Full T&Cs Apply! New customer offer. Please gamble responsibly. 18+
100% Up to $100 Welcome Bonus 250+ Yes Yes 4.8/5 Visit Site! Full T&Cs Apply! New customer offer. Please gamble responsibly. 18+
100% Up to C$300 1001+ Yes Yes 4.7/5 Visit Site! Full T&Cs Apply! New customer offer. Please gamble responsibly. 18+
100% Bonus up to $50 200+ No Yes 4.6/5 Visit Site! Full T&Cs Apply! New customer offer. Please gamble responsibly. 18+

Some of the above bookies also provide live streams of events as they happen, which makes for the best live betting experience. Some sites also allow you to Cash Out early before a game has concluded if your bet is coming in, or get your stake back if it appears you may lose. This may suit other bettors more, so take your time to research if this appeals to you.

Payment Methods at Canadian Betting Sites

Another crucial element to consider when judging a sportsbook is the kinds of payment methods that are accepted. By accepting more payment methods for deposits and withdrawals, online betting sites are acknowledging that every customer not only bets in a different way, but banks differently too.

As we found, the best betting sites in Canada offer a wide range of payment methods, including eWallets, credit cards and debit cards, bank transfers and prepaid cards. Below, we’ve provided the details of all the payment methods you will find at Canada’s online bookmakers.

Payment Method Type Deposit Limits Deposit/Withdrawal Payment Fee
eWallet $10 – $25,000 Available for Deposits / Available for Withdrawals No Fees
eWallet $10 – $25,000 Available for Deposits / Available for Withdrawals No Fees
Credit Card $10 – $25,000 Available for Deposits / Not Available for Withdrawals No Fees
Credit Card $10 – $25,000 Available for Deposits / Not Available for Withdrawals No Fees
eWallet $10 – $80 Available for Deposits / Available for Withdrawals No Fees
Bank Transfer $10 – $25,000 Available for Deposits / Available for Withdrawals No Fees
Prepaid Card $10 – $400 Available for Deposits / Not Available for Withdrawals No Fees
Bank Transfer $10 – $2,500 Available for Deposits / Available for Withdrawals $1 – $1.50 per transaction
Prepaid Card $10 – $25,000 Available for Deposits / Not Available for Withdrawals No Fees

Before you set your sights on a preferred payment method too much, it’s worth noting that not all payment methods will be accepted at all bookmakers. Additionally, some bookmakers may have different minimum and maximum transaction limits, as well as charge different fees according to which payment method is used.

PayPal Betting

Of all of the payment methods you may come across in Canada to power your betting, our favorite method is surely PayPal betting. However, the availability of PayPal at Canadian operators is not entirely dependable. This review found that is because PayPal does not allow for transactions to online bookies that are licensed in Canada.

It does, however, allow for transactions to bookmakers that are licensed in other jurisdictions, and as we’ll explore later, it is not entirely to place bets with these bookmakers in Canada. Regardless, if you have the choice to use PayPal, we commend this service due to its high security standards and the speed it provides.

Betway and PayPal logos
Top PayPal Bookie
  • Speedy Withdrawals
  • Fast Deposits
Welcome Bonus C$200
Full T&Cs Apply! New customer offer. Please gamble responsibly. 18+*

Unlike some other payment methods, it is possible that PayPal will charge fees for your transactions. However it is our belief that these small fees are well worth it for the quality of the service provided. Not only will you be able to gauge your transactions easier in PayPal, but you will be using a company that is trusted the world over for its reliability.

The Website Functionality

Although the content of a website is what brings you to a new bookie, it’s the functionality of it that will make you stay. When we talk about the functionality of a website, we’re talking about how easy it is to use, how nice it looks and how it has been organized to allow for easy navigation.

Essentially, this all comes down to good website design. We’ve tried plenty of secure betting sites with great betting options that have been too confusing and cheap looking to want to return. This is why functionality is a particularly important factor when judging an online bookie. The same goes for the extra features.

Extra Features

Now that we’ve covered all of the main features that are necessary to make a great online betting site, it’s worth mentioning that there are a number of other extra features that separate the good sites from the best. The features include Cash Out, Fast Bet, eSports betting and live streaming.

Luckily, many of our recommended operators include these features, which helps make them a much more enjoyable experience and are likely to increase how much time you can spend there. As you’ll see in the table below, we’ve listed which of our best online betting sites offer these features.

Betting Site Live Streaming Cashout Livescore Fast Bet Virtual Sports
Yes Yes Yes No Yes
No Yes Yes No Yes
No Yes Yes No Yes
No Yes Yes No Yes

As you can see, it’s not exactly common to find a betting site that offers every single extra feature. For most bettors, this lack of including all extras shouldn’t be a problem, with certain features such as live streaming less likely to appeal to eSports bettors who will likely use more popular platforms to view these games and tournaments.

The Customer Service

If you’ve ever been in the unfortunate position to need help with customer support at a top sports betting site, you’ll know just how important it is to have a fast and responsive customer support worker on your side. When we judge the customer service of an online bookie, there are several things we are looking for.

These include offering numerous methods to contact, whether telephone, email or live chat. We also look at the availability hours of customer service, as well as the average wait times. In the below table, we’ve looked at the most commonly available customer support methods in Canada and how efficiently they operate.

Contact Method Availability at Canadian Sportsbooks Response Time Usually Available
☎️ Telephone Common Up to 1 Hour 24/7
📧 E-Mail/Contact Form Common Up to 24 Hours 16 hours a day
👩‍⚕️ Live Chat Common Up to 1 Hours 24/7
💬 Messenger Common Up to 1 Hour 24/7
🌐 Social Networks Common Up to 24 Hours 12 hours a day

We always suggest bettors sign up with betting sites that offer live chat services other instant messaging options 24/7. This ensures that no matter what problem you have at what time, you will always be able to find the help you need. Using a bookmaker with good customer support could be a make or break factor in how much you enjoy a betting site.

The Sportsbook Reputation

Our final criteria to mention is how valuable it is to look into the reputation of a sportsbook. There’s no better judge of a betting site’s value than its current and former customers, and there’s a lot to be learned from discussions and reviews they have left on betting forums and social media platforms.

In coming up with our final grades of betting sites, we have scoured the internet to gauge the opinions of bettors and taken into account they’re good and bad experiences. In cases where there are trends of bad services or poor odds offered, we have discounted sites to ensure that our readers are only recommended the very best.

How to Open an Account at Canadian Bookmaker

Now to get started with signing up. Thankfully, the registration process for an online betting site in Canada is fast and stress-free. Once you have chosen which site suits you, it’s time to start signing up. All you will need is some valid proof of identification and your chosen payment method and you’ll be good to go.

Below, we’ve created a step by step guide on how to register at a Canadian betting site. The information that is needed by a licensed bookmaker is standard according to federal law, so the process should not differ greatly no matter where you decide to bet.

1
Select Your Bookmakers and Join

Once you have found a trusted bookmaker, click the Join or Register button. Provide your personal details including name, address, contact information and age.

2
Verify Your Age and Identity

Before you can deposit cash and start betting, you will first need to verify your age and identity. This can be done by providing nationally recognized identification such as a passport.

3
Deposit Your Funds and Start Betting

After your identity and age have been confirmed, you will be able to choose your payment method, claim your welcome bonus and start betting. It’s as easy as that.

As you can see, the registration process is extremely easy and should not take much longer than a few hours as long as you have all your documents. Make sure that your preferred chosen method is possible for both deposits and withdrawals to ensure that you don’t sign up for an account that doesn’t suit you.

eSports: CS:GO Betting Sites & More

Over the last few years, a number of eSports betting sites have debuted in Canada to appeal to the growing interest from bettors who want to bet on eSports games and tournaments. If you are yet to consider eSports betting, we highly recommend you take the time to consider this exciting new market.

Among the most popular eSports to bet on is Counter-Strike Go (CS: GO). This popular first-person shooter has earned a legion of fans that tune in daily to watch some of the best players battle it out online. Below, we’ve listed several Canadian CS:GO betting sites that offer interesting betting options.

eSports Betting Site Welcome Bonus Highlights Rating Secure Link T&C’s
Up to C$200 Deposit Match 22+ 93.75% 4.9/5 Visit Site! Full T&Cs Apply! New customer offer. Please gamble responsibly. 18+
Bet C$15 Get C$10 27+ 92.26% 4.8/5 Visit Site! Full T&Cs Apply! New customer offer. Please gamble responsibly. 18+
Up to C$200 100% on First Deposit 33+ 94.23% 4.7/5 Visit Site! Full T&Cs Apply! New customer offer. Please gamble responsibly. 18+
100% Deposit Bonus up to $100 41+ 94.19% 4.6/5 Visit Site! Full T&Cs Apply! New customer offer. Please gamble responsibly. 18+

If you haven’t tried eSports betting, we suggest you take the time to see why it’s becoming one of the fastest-growing sectors in online gambling in the world. Of particular interest to bettors is the fact that eSports games can be quite short and occur frequently, with players competing across the globe at all hours of the night.

The Regulation of Sports Betting in Canada & the Gambling Environment

Canada’s gambling laws are regulated by federal and provincial governments, which makes discussing general betting laws quite difficult. So, are online betting sites legal? The most important factor to consider is that online sports betting is completely legal no matter where you go in the country, although different provinces may have different limitations.

Below, we will explore in deeper detail how the best sports betting sites are regulated in Canada. While we’ve made an effort to discuss some of the major differences between different provinces, we’ve mostly chosen to focus on how sports betting is regulated in Canada, in general, to appeal to a wider audience.

Gambling Commission & Licence

Legal Sports Betting & Gambling in Canada
🎰 Fixed Odds Betting Terminals Unknown
📑 Betting Shops N/A
🏛️ Land-Based Operators 100+
💻 All Licensed Betting Sites 50+
🏆 Best-Rated Safe Betting Sites Our Picks

As mentioned above, all forms of gambling are regulated by both federal and the ten different provincial gambling commissions. In some respects, gambling laws vary greatly. For example, in Alberta, Quebec and Manitoba, it is legal to gamble at 18 years, whereas in the other provinces the minimum age is 19 years old.

The Criminal Code of Canada deals with federal matters concerning what constitutes illegal gambling, and all provincial laws must fall within these mandates. Canadian federal law also demands that for legal sports betting sites to operate in Canada, they must be licensed by the province that they are accepting customers from.

However, there are no laws against Canadians betting with offshore betting operators that have not earned licenses from provinces in Canada. In order for Canadian online betting sites to become legal operators, they must prove to different regulators that they are offering secure websites with built-in player protection measures.

In some provinces, like British Columbia, sports betting options at locally licensed operators may be limited and betting sizes are heavily restricted. Ontario, on the other hand, offers much more betting options. Only until sports betting sites in Canada meet these demands are they able to operate in individual provinces.

The Safest Online Betting Sites with a Valid Canadian Licence

Aside from the many legal betting sites, there are more than 100 land-based operators across Canada, though most of these will not accept sports bets. Instead, many provinces require retail sports betting to take place with licensed lottery retailers. Again, these details all depend on the province you are located in, so it’s well worth researching your local betting laws.

Websites to Avoid

While Canadians are able to join bookmakers that are not licensed at provinces, we would advise you to avoid joining an online betting site that has not been licensed by a respectable gambling authority. If these websites have not proved that they meet the minimum safety and security requirements of a licensing agency, do not trust your money with them.

Unfortunately, there are many unlicensed bookmakers that do not act fairly, whether that’s by offering poor odds or by not encrypting your transactions or connections. Some of these bookmakers are particularly notorious, so be sure to check our list of blacklisted sportsbooks in the table below.

There are a number of reasons that the above sites have been blacklisted, whether that’s because they have operated in markets that are not legal or continually flout basic gambling laws and regulations. If you are going to rely on any bookmaker to handle your money, we implore you to only use trusted betting sites.

History and Future

Canada’s gambling history dates back to 1892 when the then-government created the Criminal Code. In this document, almost all forms of gambling were declared illegal. The Code stipulated that charitable raffles were legal as long as they were only offering $50 or less, and horse race betting was allowed between individuals.

The first major changes to the law happened in 1910 when pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing was legalized. This allowed for the establishment of a much more sophisticated gambling product as horse racing tracks could utilize better systems to offer odds and prizes.

History of Canadian Sports Betting Laws & Acts
  • Canada Bans Most Forms of Gamling The establishment of the Canadian Criminal Code sees most forms of gambling prohibited. The Code permits charitable lottery raffles, carnival games of chance, and horse race betting between individuals authorised racetracks.
  • Pari-Mutuel Wagering Authorized The Criminal Code is amended to allow pari-mutuel wagering at horse racing tracks.  This allowed winners to win from a prize pool of money with race hosts making a portion of the profits. Charitable gambling laws are also somewhat relaxed.
  • Montreal Introduces First Lottery Montreal’s Mayor introduces a $2 voluntary tax for those wanting to participate in a state lottery. This was held numerous times before the federal government declared it illegal and shut it down. The following year, the Criminal Code was amended to allow for state-run lotteries.
  • Olympic Games Lottery Fund Established In order to help raise funds to host the Olympics, the Montreal Olympic Lottery was established. Tickets were sold for $10 and gave participants a chance to win $1 million. The lottery helped to raise the $15 million needed to build the Olympic Stadium.
  • First Provincial Gaming Regalors Established Alberta was the first province to establish its own gambling regulatory body. Within months, five more provinces had established lottery corporations to regulate different gambling activities that could offer national games across the country.
  • First Casinos Open Two casinos open, one in Vancouver and the other on Vancouver Island. These raised funds for charitable purposes. By the following year, several more cities opened charitable casinos, including a number of ferry casinos that operated between Vancouver and Seattle.
  • Online Gambling Comes to Canada Online casinos and bookmakers come to Canada and remain unregulated for more than a decade. The federal government was unable to prevent this as gambling regulation had since become a provincial matter.
  • British Columbia Regulates Online Gaming British Columbia became the first province in Canada to legally authorize online casino and bookmaker gambling. Shortly after, Quebec launched its own licensed and regulated online gambling website.

Over the course of the 20th century, the laws were gradually changed to allow provinces to take more control over their gambling markets. This eventually saw the creation of state lotteries and, by the 1990s, a highly developed land-based casino industry. To this day, gambling is mostly regulated on a provincial level.

As of 2020, there are still some changes expected for the industry. Inspired by the legalization of sports betting in the USA in 2018, a number of Canadian lawmakers are pushing to open up the industry to allow for more relaxed regulations, including allowing single bets and a freer online gambling market in general.

Betting in Canada: Conclusion

At this stage in the review, it should be clear that there are plenty of top-quality betting sites in Canada that allow for a large range of sports wagering options. Whether you’re after a betting platform that takes eSports wagers or whether you’re after someone who only bets on mobile, you’ll find a bookmaker to fit your needs.

Despite ranking the bookmakers differently in certain categories, let us reiterate that no matter which of our recommended sites you ultimately choose, you’ll be making a good decision. To remind you of the different highlights of each bookmaker, here’s a list once again of the best bookmakers according to their strengths.

Overview of the Best Online Sportsbooks in Canada 2024:

Before we wrap things up with some frequently asked questions, it’s worth pointing up that we regularly update our sports betting sites reviews to ensure that only the best are being represented in our list of all Canadian bookmakers. If a bookmaker slips in quality or has a change of reputation, we will never hesitate to remove it to ensure that our standards aren’t compromised.

Frequently Asked Questions

Whether you’re new or experienced with Canadian betting sites, it’s common to still have some questions about the finer details about the industry. That’s why we’ve helped by providing fast answers to the most commonly asked questions about sports betting in Canada.

🥇 What are the best betting sites in Canada?

We have been sure to only recommend the top betting sites in Canada, and have decided these based on our very strict criteria. These recommendations are subject to change at any moment depending on whether or not the reputations of these sites change, or if new betting sites come along that outperform them.

🏆 What betting offers can I find at Canadian sportsbooks?

There are plenty of great betting offers in Canada to claim that are regularly updated. These could include free bets, deposit matches and credits. Welcome bonuses are a great excuse to try out new bookmakers, although we have to recommend you always take the time to review the terms and conditions and make sure bookmakers continue to reward customers after you’ve signed up.

⚖️ Is betting legal in Canada?

Yes, betting is legal in Canada. However, it’s worth considering that there are different sports betting regulation according to which province you are in. These regulations may determine everything from what sports or events you can bet on to how much money you can wager. Research your local laws before betting at locally licensed operators.

💳 Is PayPal betting possible in Canada?

Yes, betting using PayPal is possible in Canada. We recommend PayPal as our preferred payment option as it provides state-of-the-art security features to your bookmaker transactions. It is also a great way to get an overview of all of your sportsbook transactions.

🔍 Are there any new betting sites you can recommend?

We are dedicated to recommending both old and new betting sites as long as they fit out strict criteria. We will not recommend a website purely on the basis that it’s new to the market, but rather choose websites that have a proven track record of offering safe, secure, high-quality betting products. Keep an eye on our recommended sites list for any new betting sites as we update this regularly.

😎 Is live betting possible in Canada?

Yes, it is possible to enjoy in-play betting  at many of Canada’s online betting websites. However, keep in mind that this may not be possible in some provinces as each jurisdiction allows for different betting types. Some bookmakers may also not choose to offer these, so check our list to see if your best local betting sites offer live bets.

👌 What is the best sport betting app I can download in Canada?

In our opinion, the top sports betting apps  will perform as good as the desktop versions of bookmakers with the added convenience of mobile functionality. Our recommendations for the very best sports betting app is always changing depending on the new welcome bonuses and features that apps may release.

🏤 Is it possible to bet on elections?

Political betting is when users can wager on the outcomes of both local and international political elections or events. These popular betting markets are available in Canada at a number of different online bookmakers, although they aren’t very common. These kinds of bets should be clearly categorized in bookmakers betting options.