Canada Sports Betting – Legality, Best Betting Sites, Best Promos and Bonuses
Online betting in Canada is becoming increasingly popular across the country. Canadians now have access to a range of betting options with great odds and bonuses available. Betting sites provide a safe and secure way to bet, giving Canadians peace of mind knowing their funds are protected. There are also plenty of promotions and loyalty programs on offer that let you get the most out of your bets. Let's learn more about online betting in Canada, from the best sites to play at, to understanding the legalities of online gambling.
The best Canadian sports gambling sites host all the major sports events, with most betting services being accessible on the desktop and mobile gaming platforms. Canadian players can bet on their favourite sports markets such as football, hockey, basketball and baseball. They can also bet on other exciting sports such as Mixed Martial Arts, horse racing and esports among others.
We have prepared a guide on how to get started if you are considering joining the exciting world of Canadian online sports betting. Read on to learn about the legality of sports betting in Canada, the available sports that you can bet on at Canadian sports betting sites, and how to generally get started on your sports betting adventure.
Gambling Laws in Canada
To be safe while gambling, Canadian bettors are encouraged to only gamble in betting sites which are licensed and regulated. This could be licensing from gambling authorities such as Curaçao or the Malta Gaming Authority when gambling at bookmakers who are based offshore.
Is betting legal in Canada?
Betting online on sports is legal for Canadian players as long as the sports betting companies have a government issued license. Alternatively, the bookmaker must operate remotely and have a valid operating license from their respective territories. Players may also gamble on the province's regulated land-based gambling sportsbooks.
Canadian bettors however prefer to gamble online from offshore bookmakers as they get more variety in sports wagers. For instance, in the past, the Canadian government has been restricting betting on single-event sports betting.
However, there has been a recent up haul on this restriction, with the senate having passed a bill legalising single game sports betting events and 27 of August 2021 being expected to be the beginning of this legalisation.
With betting rules presently being largely regulated by the specific provinces, single-game wagers in sports betting are likely to be added to the range of supported betting activities such as lotteries in Canadian territories.
How to start betting?
Canadian bettors only have to choose the best bookmaker with the best features to sign up and start betting on their favourite sports. Most online bookmakers require you to provide some details such as your names and evidence that you are of legal gambling age. You may also be asked to provide contact details such as your email or telephone number, as well as your residential address details.
Before registering your account at the best online sportsbook in Canada, you should, however, consider if the site meets all the required gambling standards and if it suits your online gambling needs. Some features to look out for when signing up with any online sportsbook in Canada include:
- The convenience of the banking options and whether the site supports making of payments in Canadian dollars.
- The licensing of the sports betting site.
- The available sports markets and odds.
- User-friendliness and ease of navigating the website.
- Bonuses, promotions and the accompanying terms on the bonus offers.
- Compatibility with different platforms and mobile gaming convenience.
- Customer satisfaction and the provided customer service options.
- Overall reputation of the sports betting site.
Sports Betting in Canada
Online sports betting in Canada has attracted many bettors who can easily bet on major sporting events that are hosted around the world. From sports such as Football and basketball to boxing, horse racing and hockey, bettors only have to log in to a bookmaker of their choice to get a great gambling experience.
Football
Fans of football sports games can bet on hundreds of top events and major leagues when they sign up at the best Canadian sports betting companies. Bettors can also get the best odds in football bets in legal betting sites.
Popular online betting in Canada football sports markets include the NFL football betting and EPL betting markets. The hype and popularity of the live-streamed National Football League events and the English Premier League especially makes football one of the top sports markets for most Canadian bettors.
Basketball
Canadian basketball fans can make their predictions count in major basketball leagues and events, including the popular NBA basketball betting. Bettors have dozens of betting options in most of the top Canadian sports gambling sites.
Hockey
Hockey game fans have an opportunity to bet on top hockey events on the NHL and CHL. Being among the most popular sports for Canadians, the top Canadian bookmakers provide the best sports odds and bonuses that players can utilise on to bet online on the international and local hockey events.
Horse Racing
Horse racing events continue to attract a large fan base of Canadian bettors who can now be able to bet on the go and on their desktops. Canadian bettors can therefore easily bet online on the Kentucky Derby, the Breeder’s Stakes, Melbourne Cup and other top events at the best Canadian sports gambling sites.
MMA
Mixed Martial Arts sports fans can bet online on MMA events at top Canadian sportsbooks. Canadians have access to the popular UFC, Bellator and ACA tournaments on their mobiles and PCs. Players can also bet on a wide number of betting options and get bonuses to bet on this exciting sport at legal betting sites in Canada.
Baseball
Canadian bettors can get the best odds in the Major League Baseball (MLB) at top Canadian sports betting sites.
ESports
Esports have quickly gained popularity across players of all ages in Canadian sports betting sites. Bettors have a chance to bet on the popular CS: Go, Dota2 and League of Legends among other e-sports.
In addition to the above, Canadian bettors can bet online on other popular sports such as winter sports, golf, boxing and other sporting events.
Sports betting Apps and Features
Sports betting on the move has become a popular pastime for most Canadian gamers. It is no wonder that the best Canadian legal betting sites have made it possible for their bettors to access their favourite sports markets on the mobile gaming platform.
The Sports betting apps are free to download and available for all major operating systems including Android, iOS and windows. Sports fans can therefore bet on sports in Canada on their mobile smartphone and tablets on instant play or through their downloadable apps. For the best sports betting gambling experience, the Sports betting app must have most of the top features, which include:
Easy to navigate
It should be easy to find the most important menus and also easy to place a bet while using the mobile app. The best apps should also be easy to navigate so that you can easily sort out the different sports and to click on other important features such as help and payment options among others.
Fully functional
The best apps for sports should be designed with all the major functions. It should be possible to access help, claim bonuses, and create an account and to make payments while on the move. This is important when you need to complete urgent functions such as accessing a time-limited bonus offer or when wanting to carry out cash-outs when betting in-play.
Responsive
The sports app should be fast-loading without many issues of freezing or other hitches, including delays when switching from one menu to the other. It should be quick loading as long as you have a stable internet connection. It should also be easy and quick to download and install on your mobile smartphone or tablet.
Secure
Your sensitive data should be secure when you bet at your preferred mobile sportsbook. The ideal sports app must guarantee that the site is secure from any bugs and that hackers cannot access and compromise your data.
Best Bonuses & Promotions
Most Canadian sports gambling sites reward their new customers with generous bonuses as appreciation for their bettors’ loyalty. New sports bettors can therefore take advantage of the juicy offers that range from free bets and money back rewards as sign up bonuses.
Most online sportsbook in Canada sites also hold numerous promotions for their regular bettors. Occasionally, you can benefit from cashback offers, money-back offers and loyalty rewards that are given when you consistently bet at the site.
When claiming the sports bonus, it is, however, advisable to consider the terms and conditions that accompany the bonus. This includes the wagering requirements, the appropriate value of the odds that you can place using the bonus and the duration that you have to claim and wager the sports bonus.
No deposit Sign up bonus
Most bookmakers in Canada invite you to explore their sports betting lobby with a free bet. This is usually awarded when you create an account, and before you make an initial deposit into the site. The free bets are mostly used to entice bettors into joining the site without the bettors risking their funds.
Deposit match bonus
These are the most common sports bonuses in many Canadian sportsbooks. You get a bonus amount that is matched to your initial deposit at the site. For instance, you may be awarded a deposit bonus of 100% up to C$100, meaning that you get an extra C$100 when you make a deposit of C$100 as a first deposit at the site.
You can then use the bonus to bet on any sports or to bet on the sports that are specified in the bonus terms. Most new sites have the best deposit match bonuses as they are looking to attract the largest number of bettors to their sites.
Sports reload bonuses
Regular players can take advantage of deposit and reload bonuses that are given from time to time at the best bookmakers list for sports in Canada. The reload bonuses help to prolong your sports gaming adventure as a small percentage of your deposit is given back as a bonus, which you can wager on sports at the site.
Other rewards and promotions that Canadian bettors can take advantage of include the free bet bonuses, cashbacks and rebates on the amount that you have spent at the site over a specific period of time.
Banking Options
The best betting sites in Canada provide their bettors with secure and convenient banking options. Bettors can also be able to make payments in Canadian dollars using the most secure payment methods such as through online bank transfers, e wallets and through card options.
Processing times
When considering the ideal book maker for your gaming needs, you should consider the processing time frames, such as how fast the deposits can be credited and how fast you can cash out your winnings.
Ease of using the payment method
It should be easy to use the payment option such that bettors do not waste unnecessarily long times setting up the payment method. For instance, e-wallets only require one to create an online account and link it to the source of funds as opposed to credit cards which require one to undergo a credit score process.
Payment Limits
Depending on your gambling needs, you should choose the banking option that allows you to deposit the amount of funds that suit your budget. For instance, as a high roller, bank transfers are some of the best options that allow you to transfer large amounts of funds.
Deposit options
Canadian sports gambling sites support secure banking options which ensure that your funds are credited within reasonable time. Players can therefore gamble right away.
Withdrawal Options
Bookmakers in Canada have also adopted the most convenient withdrawal options that suit their players. The best sites provide gamers with suitable payment options that enable players to access fast cashouts.
When making withdrawals at Canadian sports betting sites, it is advisable to compare the processing times of the specific payment option in different online betting sites. E wallets are the most suitable options for the fastest withdrawals, while bank transfer options work best for making large withdrawals.
When considering the withdrawal options, it is also advisable to consider the transaction limits. Most Canadian sports betting sites have a minimum deposit and withdrawal of C$10, while the maximum withdrawals for most options is C$5000. Some sites may however have bigger limits for their VIP players and high rollers.
