Best Canadian Sports Betting Sites December 2024

Best Sports Betting Sites Canada

Our Canadian online sports betting experts have reviewed all the best online betting sites in Canada that accept Canadian bettors. They eventually arrived at the top 12 sportsbooks in the Canadian sports betting market, which we have highlighted in our best Canadian betting sites list below. Each online sports betting site has different strengths and features, so keep reading to find the best betting sites that suit your online gambling requirements.

Please note that for readers based in Ontario, due the regulations around online gambling, mentions on this page of bonus offers, free bets, free spins or other betting promotions are not intended for your reading. If you are located inside the province of Ontario, please visit our Ontario Betting Sites page.

TonyBet Betting Site Canada

TonyBet is a high-quality casino and sportsbook which has been accepting Canadian sports bettors to its online platform since in 2011. The Canadian sportsbook is very comprehensive, with lots of markets on big games, and it often provides some of the most competitive betting odds on the market for betting online and for in play betting.

New customers to the betting site in Canada can receive a 100% deposit match welcome bonus worth up to $350 plus there are lots of recurring promos available each week too on the most popular sports events Canadian bettors want to bet on.

888Sport Betting Site

888Sport is one of the world’s largest and most popular betting sites. It has built up a large player base in Canada’s grey market, and it also launched a regulated online sportsbook and casino in Ontario back in 2022. 888Sport is renowned for offering a stylish interface, competitive odds, live streaming options, in play betting and great bonuses.

In Ontario, you will need to visit the site for details of the welcome bonus. Players in the rest of Canada can claim a 100% welcome bonus worth up to $250, and you will receive a $10 casino bonus as an added sweetener.

ComeOn! Sports Betting Sites

ComeOn! is another popular online betting site, which combines a comprehensive sportsbook with a large Canadian online casino. It has operated in Canada’s grey market for many years, and it now runs a locally regulated site in Ontario too. Once again, Ontarians must visit the site to learn what the sign-up bonus is. In other parts of Canada, new customers can claim a 100% first deposit bonus of up to $100. The site covers a large range of sports and offers helpful pre-game stats to aid your sports betting options.

LeoVegas Canadian Betting Site

LeoVegas is primarily renowned for the quality of its mobile online casino Canada customers can't get enough of, but it also offers an excellent online sportsbook. You can download a native mobile app or visit the mobile optimized site via any browser on your mobile device. The sportsbook offers hundreds of betting options on hockey, football, basketball and soccer games, along with some great features such as live betting.

The sign-up bonus is a 100% deposit match bonus worth up to $1,000, plus $30 in free bets. That is a very large promo, but it does have a high 8x rollover requirement. As always, this does not apply to players in Ontario, who must visit the site for details of their welcome bonus.

Stake.com Top Betting Site Canada

Stake.com is the world’s leading crypto betting site. It has built up a huge player base across the globe, as it offers a very polished interface, generous bonuses, rapid payouts and a very impressive all-round user experience. Most Canadians can visit Stake.com to bet on sports and casino games, but there is a newly regulated site – Stake.ca – for Ontarians. Bettors in the rest of the country can grab a 200% bonus of up to $1,000, which has a very high 40x wagering requirement.

Mr Green Betting Site Canada

Mr Green is a famous casino that offers a wealth of great games, including a few exclusives. It also offers a full suite of sports betting and in play betting options, covering hockey, football, baseball, basketball, boxing and much more. New users can claim a straightforward 100% deposit match bonus worth up to $200 for Canadian online sports betting.

William Hill Online Betting Site

William Hill is the best online betting site for anyone seeking a large selection of markets. It provides more than 700 betting options on a typical Premier League soccer match, while there are hundreds of markets on hockey games and basketball games, and horse racing with a lot of these available for in play betting.

The company was founded in 1934, and it operates the largest estate of retail betting shops in the UK. It expanded into the online arena several decades ago, and it has a large grey market operation in Canada. New customers will receive a matched first bet worth up to $300. You just need to use the promo code CA300 and bet $20 or more at minimum odds of 1.80 (-125).

Quickwin Sports Betting Site Canada

Quickwin is the best online sportsbook for Canadian bettors seeking a simple user experience. It offers a quick, easy sign-up process, and there are lots of convenient deposit options. The site is very easy to navigate, and it offers a huge sportsbook and casino rolled into one, a great place for both live betting and to play casino games.

The Quickwin sign-up bonus is a 100% deposit match offer worth up to $150, which has a simple 1x rollover requirement. It also offers a 50% reload bonus of up to $750 each week, plus cashback deals, parlay boosts and much more are on offer when you bet online.

Bet365 Betting Site

Bet365 is a stylish betting site that operates nationwide, as you would expect from one of the most popular betting sites in the world. Customers using the brand can benefit from a large online sportsbook, regular offers and some great features such as price boosts. Their inplay offering is second to none with stats and live streaming available. Not to mention bet builders, cash out, live betting and much more.

DraftKings Online Betting Site

Unlike the previous sites mentioned in this guide, DraftKings sportsbook is only available in Ontario’s regulated market. It does not offer a grey market site for players in any other provinces or territories. The company was initially renowned for running Daily Fantasy Sports contests, but it has now expanded into traditional online sports betting and casino gaming. 

It is one of North America’s most popular online sportsbooks, offering early lines, competitive odds, a huge range of props and a great rewards program. You must visit the site for details of the welcome bonus.

Bwin Sports Betting Site Canada

Bwin is a popular online betting site that covers an enormous range of sports. You can bet on everything from alpine skiing, athletics and badminton to snooker, table tennis and volleyball, along with eSports betting, entertainment and politics. 

Bwin hosts casino games, virtual sports and poker tournaments too. Customers in Ontario can discover details of the sign-up bonus by visiting the site and navigating to the “Offers” page. Regulations from iGaming Ontario require all bonus details to be concealed until you actively visit a gambling site.

Sports Interaction

Sports Interaction are one of top options in the sports betting industry for betting online. Whether you are looking to place a sports bet on live betting markets on the most popular sports such as horse racing and college football, and from top leagues like the Canadian Premier League. Sports Interaction covers single game betting, outright markets and parlay bets as well as any bookmaker.

Sports Interaction even offer online casino gambling. So you can try some new casino games, or maybe even revisit some of your traditional favourite casino games at the Sports Interaction online casino while you bet online.

Pinnacle Sportsbook

Pinnacle Sportsbook operate differently to other sports betting sites Canada has to offer. They concentrate on offering customers the best odds and the highest betting limits on all sports such as horse racing, the Canadian football league, college football and other niche sports. However, because of the lower margins on betting markets, you will find this online bookmaker does not give out as many betting bonuses to players.

We feel this is a compromise worth taking, and getting the best odds on same game parlays, single game betting and live betting is not something to be ignored by sports bettors in Canada.

BetMGM Sports Betting Site

One of the world's premier names in the gambling industry is available for players in Canada, with everything you could need for mobile betting at your fingertips. Whether its prop bets, live streaming of sport, in play betting on college football, live betting on Ice Hockey, or competitive odds on horse racing and soccer, BetMGM has it all. There is even one of the best casino sites Canada has to offer thrown into the mix.

BetRivers Betting Site

BetRivers is another site that operates exclusively in Ontario. A Chicago-based company called Rush Street Interactive launched BetRivers in 2019, and it has become one of the top online gambling operators in the US market. It expanded into Ontario in 2022, offering a user-friendly sports betting site and casino. 

The sportsbook is powered by Kambi, so it offers the same markets and layout as fellow Kambi clients such as LeoVegas. However, it has invested in additional features, including live streaming and an automated payout system. Head over to the BetRivers site now for details of the bonuses and promotions on offer.

Sports Betting Sites Offers

Canada has one of the world’s most competitive online sports betting markets. Operators roll out attractive bonuses in an effort to stand out from the crowd, so you can benefit from some great promos at the top sports betting sites. These are some of the best bonuses on offer at leading Canadian sportsbooks:

Free Bets & Bonus Bets

Many online sports betting sites will provide you with a free bet when you sign up for a new account. For example, you might be offered a Bet $50, Get $100 welcome bonus. In that case, you would need to place a $50 qualifying wager to unlock $100 in bonus credits. The bonus bets will come with wagering requirements, which must be satisfied before you can cash out any winnings from a free bet.

Risk Free Bets

These bonuses provide you with a rebate if your bet loses. For example, you may be offered a risk-free bet worth up to $500 at an online sportsbook. In that case, just sign up and wager up to $500 on any game. If it wins, you will be paid cash. If the wager loses, you will get your money back in free bets, typically with a 1x rollover requirement. Some Canadian sportsbooks no longer use the term “risk-free,” so they may refer to these offers as insurance bonuses, no-sweat bets or second-chance bets.

Deposit Bonuses

Some of the best betting sites online will offer to match a percentage of your first deposit with bonus funds. For example, you may be offered a 50% deposit bonus of up to $250 or a 100% deposit bonus of up to $1,000. Your bonus funds will be released as soon as you make a minimum deposit, and you will then need to satisfy the wagering requirements before they convert to cash.

No Deposit Bonuses

Occasionally, an online sportsbook will offer new customers free bets, without requiring a qualifying deposit. This is known as a no deposit bonus. These offers are very rare, but they are attractive. Just bear in mind that you generally need to complete a high rollover requirement on the bet credits before a real money withdrawal will be permitted.

Loyalty Bonuses

The top betting sites Canadian bettors can access will offer comprehensive loyalty programs. You will earn loyalty points each time you place a wager, and they will stack up in your account. They can then be redeemed for rewards, such as bonus credits and profit boosts. You will also climb up to higher tiers when you reach specific milestones in terms of points earned, and you will earn better perks and redemption rates when you do so.

Existing Customer Offers

Most sportsbooks offer their existing customers a wide range of bonuses. These deals are designed to encourage loyalty and reward you for regularly logging into your account. They include reload bonuses, odds boosts, profit boosts, insurance offers, matched bets, prize draws and free-to-play contests offering prizes. Visit the promotions page at any online betting site to see which deals are currently available.

Promo Codes

Some online sportsbooks require Canadians to enter a specific promo code to claim the sign-up bonus. If you follow the links shown on this page, any necessary promo codes will be applied to your account. Many sportsbooks do not require a code but clicking our links will ensure you get the best bonuses anyway.

How We Review Canadian Online Betting Sites

Our experts sign up for accounts with a wide range of Canadian online betting sites and then subject them to very detailed reviews. They make payments, place bets, claim bonuses and request support, allowing them to gain first-hand experience of the site. Throughout this process, we make detailed notes, focusing on 14 key categories:

Regulated Operators

We search for secure online betting sites that hold licenses from respected regulators. Ontario betting sites have only recommend online sportsbooks that have gained approval from provincial regulator iGaming Ontario, which is part of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario. 

No other provinces such as Alberta have locally regulated markets for private online sportsbooks, so most Alberta sports betting fans use betting sites based overseas. In that case, we look for sites that are licensed by powerful regulators such as the United Kingdom Gambling Commission and the Malta Gaming Authority. That gives you confidence that you are playing at a legitimate betting site.

Site Reputation

We also focus on the general reputation of each betting site. The best sports betting apps Canada players can register with have been paying out customers on time and in full for many years, with no issues. They are renowned for grading bets fairly, upholding their terms and behaving with integrity. The mobile betting sites highlighted on this page also have excellent security records, as they invest in the latest encryption measures and firewalls to protect your data.

Welcome Offers

Our experts break down the welcome bonuses on offer at each online sportsbook too. They focus on the size of each bonus and the wagering requirements. The best welcome offers are large, and they come with a simple 1x rollover requirement. Bonuses with higher playthrough requirements are less attractive, as that makes it harder for you to cash out a profit. We also examine any other conditions, such as minimum odds requirements and restrictions, when assessing the overall appeal of each sign-up bonus.

Existing Customers Promotions

There are also lots of recurring promotions for existing customers to claim at the top sports betting sites. Canadian sports bettors can redeem odds boosts and profit boost tokens, which enhance your cash winnings on successful bets. You can also benefit from Bet & Get deals, whereby you place a specific wager and receive a bonus bet in return. 

Insurance deals are often available too, such as parlay insurance or overtime insurance on a hockey game. Additional promos include free-to-play contests offering prizes, along with rewards via a loyalty program. We search for online sports betting sites that reward existing customers with a wide range of promotions each week.

Range of Available Sports Betting Markets

We analyze the range of sports betting markets available at each site too. The best sports wagering sites Canada players can access offer more than 200 markets on a typical NHL game. You should also find a very large range of betting markets on basketball, football, soccer, horse racing and baseball. You'll also find the best eSports betting Canada has to offer is on the better betting sites. To make our list you also need to offer markets on some of the more niche sports. We always like to see F1 betting or golf betting is available on for bettors.

They will include lots of alternative lines and prop bets, plus a wide range of in-game betting markets and futures bets. The best betting sites offer a wide array of same-game parlay options too, and they allow you to compile bets such as teasers and round robins.

Customer Service and Support

The quality of the customer service is another important consideration when weighing up the all-round appeal of a sports betting site. The best online sportsbooks offer 24/7 support via multiple channels, such as phone, live chat, email and social media. The agents reply very quickly, and they provide clear, insightful answers to your questions, while always maintaining a patient, friendly tone. The top sports betting sites have large online help centres too, packed with FAQs, along with betting guides and other useful tools and resources.

Competitive Odds

This is arguably the most important area that we focus on when reviewing Canadian betting sites. The ultimate goal of any sports bettor is to earn a profit, and you can significantly boost your chances of doing so by regularly claiming the best odds on the market. The top betting sites take a relatively low house edge on their betting lines, which improves your chances of ending up in profit at the end of a season. 

However, it is always worth registering with multiple betting sites. Canada bettors can then compare the odds on offer at each sportsbook and place their wagers at the site with the best price on any picks they make.

Many Deposits and Withdrawal Methods

There are lots of secure deposit and withdrawal methods at the best betting sites Canada players can register with. They include credit cards, debit cards, e-wallets, instant banking methods, prepaid cards and potentially cryptocurrencies at certain sites too. We assess the breadth of convenient, reliable payment methods at each site for sports betting in Canada, along with the payout speeds and the limits on offer. The best sports betting sites offer same day payouts, do not charge any deposit or withdrawal fees, offer broad limits and they make the payment process for mobile betting very simple.

Mobile Sports Betting App

We know that most sports bettors prefer to place wagers via their mobile devices, as it is more convenient than firing up a desktop or laptop. Some online sportsbooks offer native mobile apps, which are available to download through the App Store on an iPhone or Google Play if you have an Android device. 

Others do not have apps, but they provide mobile optimized versions of their betting sites, which you can visit through any browser on your device. Either way, we assess the speed, reliability, accessibility and all-round quality of each mobile sportsbook when conducting our reviews.

User Experience

The user experience is another important consideration when we rank Canadian sports betting websites. The best operators provide a neat, uncluttered sports betting platform. They offer an intuitive navigation system too, making it quick and easy for you to find the games you are interested in. 

These top sportsbooks display the betting options in an accessible format, so browsing is simple, and they allow you to place bets within seconds. However, they also provide a variety of value-added features to heighten the user experience, such as detailed pre-game stats, insights from experts, odds boosts, parlay builders and so on.

Live Streaming

Some online betting sites heighten the experience by allowing you to stream live sporting events, such as NHL games, MLB games and soccer matches. This can be invaluable when you are betting in-play, as you can watch the action and place wagers within the same window. If live streaming is offered, it should be clear, sharp and highly reliable, without any lags, buffering issues or glitches that cause the streams to crash.

In-Play Betting

In-play betting is very popular among Canadian sports fans. It allows you to watch a game unfold, gauge how well the teams are shaping up and place live wagers from a position of strength. However, it is imperative that you find a reliable sportsbook that makes the process very quick and easy. 

The lines change rapidly throughout a game, so speed is of the essence. We search for betting sites that make the live betting process simple, and we also highlight sportsbooks that offer competitive odds on a large range of in-play markets, along with features like live streaming, scores, stats and updates.

Cash Out

The best sportsbooks will allow you to cash out your bets before the game finishes. This can be a useful feature if your team is winning, but you are worried about the prospect of them suffering a late capitulation. 

We analyze the generosity of the early cash out offers at each betting site, as we know some sportsbooks offer unattractive terms. Our experts also look out for sites that offer partial cash out, allowing you to lock in a profit on part of your stake and leave the rest riding on the outcome of the game.

Canadian Online Casino

Many of the best online sports betting sites will also offer the best online casino Canada can provide. That allows you to bet on your favourite sports and play slots, table games and live dealer games via a single wallet. We focus on the game quality, game variety, user experience and no deposit bonus casino Canada customers can take advantage of at each online casino. 

The best casino apps Canada offers more than 1,000 games from a broad pool of respected suppliers, ensuring you can access a diverse array of quality games. They make it easy for you to find out information about the RTP (Return to Player) rate and volatility of each game, and they also make it simple to navigate the portfolio.

Betting Sites Payment Methods

There are lots of secure, quick and convenient payment methods at the top sports betting sites in Canada. These are the most common methods:

Credit Cards / Debit Cards

You can use Visa and Mastercard to fund your account at the best Canadian betting sites, and they often provide direct payouts through Visa Fast Funds and Mastercard Send too.

Instant Banking Methods

Interac, Instadebit and iDebit are all very popular banking methods for Canadian bettors. They facilitate instant deposits and very quick withdrawals. Direct bank transfers and wire transfers are often available too.

E-wallets

Deposits and withdrawals are also available via e-wallets. You can often use PayPal in Ontario, while e-wallets such as ecoPayz, MuchBetter, Skrill and Neteller are more common at grey market sites. You can also use methods like Apple Pay and Google Pay.

Cryptocurrency

Crypto will only be available at certain grey market betting sites. You cannot use it at Ontario sportsbooks, and it is not listed as an option at European operators like William Hill, Mr Green, LeoVegas and Bwin either. Betting sites based in Curaçao, such as CobraBet, tend to accept Bitcoin and various altcoins. It is a quick, secure method, with high limits, but you need to pay network fees.

What Sports Can I Bet On in Canada?

Sports bettors can bet on more than 25 of the most popular sports at the best online betting sites in Canada. They will all offer a wealth of hockey betting options, allowing you to bet on NHL games and various other leagues from around the world. Football fans can bet on major sports leagues. Including the CFL, NFL (National Football League) and NCAAF (College Football) games, while there are always lots of basketball, baseball and soccer betting markets to enhance your sports betting experience.

Other popular sports for sports betting enthusiasts at Canadian sportsbooks include eSports betting, lacrosse, tennis, UFC betting, golf, cricket, rugby union rugby league, boxing and motorsports. You can also place wagers on athletics, Aussie Rules, badminton, bowls, cycling, darts, futsal, Gaelic sports, handball, softball, snooker, table tennis, volleyball, water polo and various winter sports, plus politics, entertainment and novelty markets. The best online gambling sites for sports betting in Canada players can access will offer detailed pre-game and in-game coverage of thousands of different events each week.

Which Canadian Sports Teams Can You Bet On?

Toronto Maple Leafs

Often referred to as Canada’s team, the support of Leaf Nation extends from coast to coast, but it is naturally concentrated in the Toronto area. That widespread popularity often impacts the betting odds on the Leafs. They are generally overrated in NHL futures odds because so much money is typically wagered on them to win. It artificially lowers the team’s odds, but the Leafs have not won the Stanley Cup since 1967.

Montreal Canadiens

The Habs have won more Stanley Cups than any other franchise (24). They won their first title in 1915-16, two seasons before the launch of the NHL. Montreal fans are passionate about their club, and that means they’ll keep Quebec betting sites taking wagers on the Canadiens even when logic suggests it’s more of a donation than a wager.

Vancouver Canucks

Vancouver was the third Canadian city to be awarded an NHL franchise as part of the 1970 expansion, and the Canucks have a passionate fan base. When the city was passed over for the 1967 NHL expansion, Vancouverites responded by boycotting the beer sponsor of Hockey Night In Canada. Whenever Vancouver makes a Stanley Cup run, Canada’s west coast obsesses over the Canucks.

Edmonton Oilers

The Oilers joined the NHL in 1979 following the merger with the WHA, and they went on to win the Stanley Cup five times between 1984 and 1990. Wayne Gretzky broke all manner of NHL records during his nine-year stay in Edmonton, and superstars such as Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have taken on his mantle in the modern era to ensure they are favorites for people wagering on Alberta betting sites.

Calgary Flames

The Flames started out in Atlanta before relocating to Calgary in 1980. They won the 1989 Stanley Cup, and they have also claimed three conference titles and seven division championships over the years. The Flames have a passionate fan base in Calgary, and their “Battle of Alberta” showdowns with Oilers are always heated affairs.

Ottawa Senators

The Sens joined the NHL in 1992, but they are still chasing their first Stanley Cup. They have seized four division championships, along with the conference title in 2007 and the Presidents’ Trophy in 2007. Their games against the Leafs are known as the Battle of Ontario, and they typically serve up a blend of drama and excitement for people betting in-play on Ontario betting sites.

Toronto Raptors

The Raptors made history in 2018-19, becoming the first team from outside the USA to win the NBA Finals. Since arriving as an NBA expansion franchise in 1994, the Raptors have caused an explosion in the popularity of basketball in Canada. That's also led to an increase in basketball betting across the country.

Toronto Blue Jays

The Blue Jays captured the passion of a nation when they won back-to-back World Series in 1992-93. Whenever the Jays make a run at the pennant, the entire country is riveted to the show. With a young up-and-coming team, the Jays are poised to have Ontario betting sites once again taking wagers on their every pitch.

CFL Teams

There are four teams in the East Division: Hamilton Tiger Cats, Montreal Alouettes, Ottawa Redblacks and Toronto Argonauts. The CFL also features five teams in the West Division: BC Lions, Calgary Stampeders, Edmonton Elks, Saskatchewan Roughriders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Each year, the winners of each division vie for glory in the Grey Cup, which is one of the largest sporting events in Canada.

Additional Teams

Canada also has two MLS teams – Toronto FC and the Vancouver Whitecaps. Toronto FC won the MLS Cup in 2017, and they have been one of the strongest teams in the league during the modern era. The National Lacrosse League also features the Calgary Roughnecks, Halifax Thunderbirds, Saskatchewan Rush, Toronto Rock and Vancouver Warriors. The Toronto Arrows are a professional rugby union team and there are various esports teams in Canada too.

How to Sign Up to an Online Betting Site

It is easy for sports bettors to sign up with the best online betting sites in Canada. Canadian sports bettors players can follow these steps to create an account for sports betting in Canada with Canadian sportsbooks:

1. Click the “Visit Site” button next to one of the online sports betting sites featured on this page. It will open the site in a new tab, and it will ensure you receive the best welcome bonus.
2. When you land on online gambling sites, you will see details of the sign-up offer you have qualified for. You can then open the registration and fill in your personal details, including your name, date of birth and address, along with contact details.
3. Create a password. Some betting sites in Canada ask you to create a username too. Agree to the T&Cs and complete the form.
4. You will then generally need to verify your identity, which is part of the legal KYC checks that licensed betting sites need to complete. Upload scanned copies of the documents requested, and they will be approved. You may also need to verify your email address by clicking a link sent to your inbox.
5. When your account has been approved, you can make your first deposit in the online cashier and begin betting on your favourite sports betting markets.

How to Place a Bet at A Canadian Sportsbook Online

It is also very easy to place a wager at the best betting sites Canada has to offer. Just choose a sport from the main menu and select one of the leagues. Find a game or futures market you want to bet on and then click or tap on any betting option.

It will pop up on your online betslip. You can then enter your bet amount on the slip. It will inform you of the winnings you stand to earn if the bet succeeds. If you are happy, click to confirm the wager, and you will be paid out after the event if your prediction was correct.

Types of Sports Bets Offered on Canadian Betting Sites

The best sportsbooks in Canada offer a large range of betting options. These are the most common sports bets:

Moneyline

A simple prediction on which team will win a game, which player will win a tennis match, which fighter will win a bout and so on.

Spread

The betting sites give one team a handicap, and you can then bet on who will cover the resulting spread. For example, you might find odds of 1.91 (-110) on the Toronto Raptors -4.5 against the Chicago Bulls and 1.91 (-110) on the Bulls +4.5. This bet type is known as the puck line on a hockey game.

Total

An over/under bet on how many goals, points or runs will be scored in a game, half, quarter or period. You can also bet over/under on the number of rounds in a fight, games in a tennis match and much more.

Props

Special bets on player stats, team stats or events within a game. For example, you can bet on an NHL player to score a goal, the highest scoring period, the first team to 3 goals and so on.

Parlay

A bet combining picks on multiple games, such as the Canucks, Flames and Oilers all to win. Each pick needs to win for the parlay to succeed, and you will then receive a substantial payout, as the winnings from each correct leg carry over to the next one.

Futures

Long-term bets running throughout a tournament or season, such as a team to win the Stanley Cup, a player to win the Hart Memorial Trophy or a team to make the playoffs.

Daily Fantasy Sports at Canadian Betting Sites

Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) contests are available in every Canadian province and territory apart from Ontario. The main providers are DraftKings and FanDuel. They allow Canadians to compete with American players in a broad range of DFS contests, covering hockey, football, basketball, baseball, soccer and various other sports.

They were previously available in Ontario too, but that was no longer possible after DraftKings and FanDuel launched legal sports betting sites in the province. Ontario requires all gambling to be ring-fenced within the province, so bettors there can only compete against fellow Ontario sports betting fans. DraftKings and FanDuel say that the pools would be too small for them to make DFS work.

These contests remain popular in other parts of Canada. You simply create a virtual team of real players from various teams. You earn points based on the real-life performances of your chosen athletes that day. They are awarded for specific actions, such as goals, assists, and other statistical achievements. You compete against your fellow players, and you can win cash prizes if you perform well.

Canada Sports Betting History

• 1969: The Canadian Criminal Code is amended to permit provincial and federal governments to run lotteries. In 1976, the city of Montreal runs a lottery to help cover the costs of playing host to the 1976 Summer Olympic Games.
• 1985: The Canadian Criminal Code is amended to permit sports betting to be offered in a lottery-style format. Wagers must be played in multiple formats to be legal.
• 1992: Pro-Line, the new online terminal sports lottery from Sport Select, launches in Canada. They offer betting on the NHL, NFL and MLB, among other leagues.
• 1995: Over/under wagering added to Pro-Line.
• 2004: The BC Lottery Corporation takes Sports Action, its version of Pro-Line, online. This is the first time that online sports betting is offered in Canada.
• 2020: Bill C-218, The Safe Regulated Sports Betting Act, is introduced in the House of Commons and given first reading.
• 2021: Bill C-218 passes following the third reading in the Senate of Canada. The bill is passed without amendment. Royal Assent is then given by the office of the Governor-General of Canada, enabling the bill to become a law.
• August 27, 2021: The single game sports betting industry begins at province-run sites across Canada, including PlayNow in British Columbia, ProLine+ in Ontario and Mise-o-jeu+ in Quebec.
• February 11, 2022: Nova Scotians gained access to single game sports betting just in time for Super Bowl 56. All other provinces and territories had previously introduced single game sports betting, but Nova Scotia was the final part of Canada to take the plunge.
• April 4, 2022: Ontario introduced Canada’s first locally regulated online sports betting market for private operators. Thirteen online sportsbooks launched on the first day, including BetRivers and LeoVegas.
• July 20, 2023: A report from iGaming Ontario reveals that the province’s sports betting handle reached $2 billion during the first quarter of the 2023 fiscal year.

Are Sports Betting Sites Legal in Canada?

Sports betting sites are legal in Canada. You must be 19 or older to use sports betting sites in Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec. The minimum legal age for sports betting in all other provinces and territories is 18.

In Ontario, there are 30 locally regulated sports betting sites. They include 888Sport, DraftKings, LeoVegas, DraftKings, Bwin and BetRivers. These sportsbooks are licensed and regulated by iGaming Ontario, an agency within the Alcohol and Gambling Commission of Ontario. You can also use ProLine+, the sports betting site run by the provincial government.

There are government-run betting sites in other provinces and territories too, such as Mise-o-jeu+ in Quebec, PlayNow in British Columbia, PlayAlberta in Alberta and Sport Select in Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba, the Yukon and Northwest Territories. Prior to 2021, those betting sites could only accept parlays with three or more legs. That all changed when the federal government amended the Canadian Criminal Code, permitting single game sports betting for the first time. Those sites now accept straight bets along with parlays.

Parlays are notoriously difficult to compile, so most bettors use grey market betting sites based overseas instead of the province-run sites. There are no federal, provincial or territorial laws to stop you from using gambling sites based overseas. Quebec once attempted to prevent residents from using offshore betting sites via an IP block, but the Superior Court of Quebec overruled the provincial government, declaring that such a move would be unconstitutional.

Quebecers have been free to use betting sites based overseas ever since, and that ruling also set a nationwide precedent, as no other provincial governments have attempted to impose a similar measure since then.

Grey market betting sites such as CobraBet, William Hill and Mr Green tend to provide better odds, larger bonuses, more options and slicker software than government-run sites like Sport Select and PlayNow, so most Canadian bettors continue to use them for straight bets and parlays.