Ontario Sports Betting
Online Launch Guide For February 2023

Best Ontario Sports Betting Apps Now Available

NHL Stanley Cup

NBA Finals

MLB World Series

Full List Of Ontario Sportsbook Apps

DraftKings Ontario

BetVictor Ontario

BetMGM Ontario

BetRivers Ontario

Bet365 Ontario

Caesars Ontario

Unibet Ontario

Sports Interaction Ontario

PointsBet Ontario

FanDuel Ontario

theScore Bet Ontario

Best for: Local Residents

Penn National has designated theScore Bet as their official brand for the Canadian sports betting market. It was chosen over Barstool Sportsbook as theScore is more prevalent throughout the country with their popular sports news app. On February 3, the AGCO gave theScore Bet a “certificate of registration,” giving it the ability to launch when the online gaming market opens up. theScore Bet Sportsbook & Casino app is now available.

888sport Ontario

Best for: Platform Variety

VHL Ontario operates 888sport along with 888casino and 888poker for Ontario residents. They received licensure from the AGCO in mid-March 2022 and were active beginning on the April 4 launch day. 888sport features a large depth of sports options, including popular events of football and hockey to more niche categories such as rugby and cricket.

888 has announced that it will rebrand to Sports Illustrated (SI) Sportsbook and Casino soon.

Rivalry Ontario

Best for: Video Game Players

Based in Toronto, Ontario, Rivalry makes a lot of sense to operate online sports betting and casinos in the province. This is an esports-focused betting platform that will likely be exclusively available online. Along with esports offerings, there will be popular leagues and niche sports to bet on.

FanDuel Ontario

Best for: App Design

Flutter Entertainment has brought its popular FanDuel sports betting app to the Ontario market. It’s easy to set up an account and get started with some of the best user incentives and great odds for player props. Specifically, the FanDuel Sportsbook app features one of the best designs and stable options to use in the industry. Unfortunately, the daily fantasy sports option is not available in Ontario at this time.

Coolbet Ontario

Like many other online igaming apps, Coolbet offers sports betting and casino options. We appreciate the slick-looking interface that will likely capture many bettors’ attention. However, they could do with a little more consistency in readability. Perhaps the biggest drawback is the amount of deposit and withdrawal options – the latter only being through eCashout. Coolbet was released in 2016 and is based in Scandinavia.

LeoVegas Ontario

The Swedish online gaming company LeoVegas has a great sports betting app that features a bright design scheme and over 40 different sports to wager on. Special features include an odds customization slider and a parlay accumulation booster that improves odds with parlay bets. Deposit and withdrawal methods are a bit limited at this time.

NorthStar Bets

Another local platform is Torstar’s online sportsbook and casino, NorthStar Bets. In late February, NorthStar Gaming and the Torstar Corporation officially announced the name of their new online gaming venture. The Toronto Star will feature content dedicated to sports betting and will be promoting the new app.

What Sports Can You Bet On In Ontario?

Ontario’s sports betting market will place few restrictions on the types of allowed sports wagers. Ontario’s early draft of sports betting guidelines set standards for the types of events that sportsbooks can offer lines on.

If these same standards make it into the final draft of Ontario’s sportsbook regulations, then all professional, collegiate, and international sports will be available. Examples include the National Football League (NFL), National Hockey League (NHL), Canadian Football League (CFL), and college football.

Sportsbooks won’t be able to offer lines on events where most participants are minors or on events that profit from the infliction of human misery or suffering. (No SAW events in Ontario.) But even with these preliminary restrictions, Ontario sportsbooks will likely have discretion in whether to offer lines on new and emerging sports, like esports.

Ontario Sports Teams

Multiple franchises in the NHL and CFL are located in Ontario. A few other professional leagues based in the United States also reach into the province, including the National Basketball Association (NBA) and Major League Baseball (MLB). Additionally, the NFL is looking into specifically expanding into the Toronto market with select games and a potential franchise.

Four teams are located in the biggest Canadian city, Toronto, with over 2.7 million residents. In the greater area, this expands to over 6.4 million people. Ottawa is the capital city of Canada with over 1.4 million people located in the metro area.

National Football League Outlook

As of now, there are no official plans to bring an NFL team to Toronto. In early 2020, commissioner Roger Goodell said in a State of the NFL address that Toronto needed a stadium “up to NFL standards.” Canada has been mentioned as a potential location for games in the NFL International Series, but no further details are known.

Ontario Sports Betting Offer Types

Sportsbooks run by the province’s lottery corporation will often run welcome offers for new customers. This may be site credit just for registering or when placing a deposit. Promotions are run to encourage new bettors to sign up and explore a new platform.

Now that the private sector is entering the Ontario market, they will feature competitive odds and player incentives compared to their lottery-run counterparts. Here are the main types of betting offers they will find at various online sportsbooks.

Bet Insurance

One of the most popular new user offers available is covering the cost of a bettors’ initial wager if they lose. For example, if a new bettor opens an account, places $50 on a first bet, and loses, then that money is given back as site credit. Sportsbooks will offer various maximum amounts for offers that new bettors can qualify for.

Bettors do not have to match the maximum amount. They can generally put in any amount up to the maximum allowed. Note that some sportsbooks may require a minimum amount that qualifies for the special offer.

These may be similar to what you’ve seen in the United States with different terminology, but government restrictions in Ontario forbid that. This is because bettors are still using their money with the sportsbook and they are unable to make a withdrawal. Some operators, such as Caesars Sportsbook, were one of the first to rename this to “First Bet Insurance.”

Deposit Match

Deposit match offers are also popular since they allow bettors to pad their accounts as they wager. These come with important strings attached. For example, a sportsbook could offer a certain percentage they would match. If a bettor puts in a $50 deposit and the sportsbook matches it by 50%, then the bettor would receive an additional $25 – often in site credit, meaning it’s not eligible for withdrawal.

Typically, there’s a playthrough requirement. We’ve seen sportsbooks require the match to be played through their various gaming options one-time through all the way to 25 times through. There may be different limitations for Ontario when commercial sportsbooks launch as regulations limit excessive play.

No-Deposit Site Credit and Free Bets

No-deposit specials and free bets are simple sign-up rewards bettors get for creating an account. These are popular offer types since bettors don’t have to deposit any money. They can also be labeled as free bets in Ontario because there is no risk for a new player to use their own money.

However, these types of incentives are always small and very rare in the United States. They may be a little more common in Ontario due to specific regulations.

How To Install Ontario Online Sportsbook Apps On An Apple iOS Device

Installing a sportsbook application on an Apple or iOS device should be quick and simple. Bettors can find the platform that best suits their needs, download the app, register and deposit initial funds, and begin gambling.

1. Review various applications that have been mentioned on this site. Toronto Sports Media provides information and reviews throughout the site on legitimate sports betting and casino applications. 
2. If online sports betting is available in the area, register for the sportsbook with special codes and links for new user offers.
3. Prior to or after registration, there may be a prompt to download the sportsbook app. After download, this will install automatically on the device. If this doesn’t happen, the app can be found and downloaded from the App Store.

How To Install Online Sports Betting Apps On An Android Device In Ontario

Similarly, installing an app on an Android device should be relatively straightforward. Users can set up an account and receive special offers prior to placing their wagers.

1. Take a look at different sports applications offered in the industry. This website contains reviews for legitimate platforms, including DraftKings and BetMGM.
2. Register for the sportsbook with personal information to become verified by the operator and deposit money into the account. Make sure to use any codes and special links for deals.
3. Before or after the registration process, users may have to download the app to complete the process. If this doesn’t occur, the app is also available on Google Play.

At this time, online sports betting is limited to lottery sportsbook operations in Canada. Local users may have access to similar mobile sites or apps based on the province’s lottery organization.

What Makes For A Good Ontario Mobile Sports Betting App?

You’ll want to look for a few major factors before downloading a mobile sportsbook and putting money into an account.

Speed

Always choose a sportsbook known for its speed and lag-free performance. Big operators like DraftKings, BetRivers, and more will be excellent choices because of this.

Access To Favorite Bets

You’ll also want a sportsbook that lets you bet on your favorite sporting events and players. Fortunately, most major sportsbooks will let you place bets on major Canadian sports leagues for hockey, football, baseball, and more.

Navigation

Be sure to check out a sportsbook’s interface and make sure that it is navigable before you download it. Navigable sportsbooks are more enjoyable to use and easier to grasp for new players.

Access To Promotions

Lastly, consider the welcome offers or promotions available from a given sportsbook operator before choosing. Some of the best incentives will give you a good chunk of site credit to bolster your initial cash, or even double it.

How Can Ontarian Players Deposit And Withdraw Money In Online Betting Apps?

Similar to the United States, Ontarian players are able to deposit and/or withdraw funds into their accounts using a variety of methods. Expect popular options such as:

• Online banking
• Debit card
• ACH transfers
• Electronic wallet transfers using PayPal and similar platforms

Keep in mind that the details of Ontario’s upcoming sports betting industry are still unknown as it’s currently launching. So we don’t know whether there will be any further limitations or unsupported deposit methods. Newer methods could be coming online in the near future.

For example, credit cards will likely not be a valid deposit method. While this option is available in some of the United States, Ontario’s emphasis on responsible gambling will likely eliminate it. Due to various potential fees, we don’t recommend using credit cards for any online gambling even when available.

Responsible Gaming in Ontario

A note on the legal Ontario online sports betting launch is the emphasis on responsible gambling. Unlike in the United States, there may not be large welcome offers and some terminology will be different. Sportsbooks will still have promotions, but advertising rules and regulations are still being worked out. Some organizations may look toward cementing connections with sports leagues, teams, and trusted brand names.

Legal Vs Unregulated Betting In Ontario

With Canada’s sports betting industry historically limited, there are lots of unregulated or offshore betting sites to check out. But we would never recommend visiting these sites for a few major reasons.

Unregulated sportsbooks may have subpar odds compared to an official platform. There’s no guaranteeing that any offshore betting site will actually pay winnings fairly in one or more successful wagers.

In contrast, the legal betting sites and apps soon coming to Ontario will provide more enjoyable betting no matter the experience level. It is best to sign up for legal options when single-game wagers become available before putting money down.

Restrictions are still in place for horse racing. An amendment was given to bill C-218 to keep the country’s horse racing industry unaffected from the latest legislation.

What Are The Benefits Of Using Legal Online Sportsbook Apps In Ontario?

Unregulated online sportsbook apps are not very safe and players have never had much legal recourse if their personal information or funds were stolen. This illustrates the major benefit of using legal online sportsbook apps in Ontario and across Canada once they come around.

Each legal online sportsbook launch will be overseen by at least one regulatory or authoritative body. Furthermore, legal online sportsbook apps will use SSL certification and other digital security measures to protect both their players’ personal information and their funds.

About Single-Event Sports Betting In Ontario

Canada passed bill C-218 on February 17, 2021, a crucial bit of sports betting legislation that has now legalized single event or single-game sports wagering. Ontario passed single-event wagering on August 27, 2021, with the immediate launch of OLG’s Proline+ online platform. Previously, only parlay (multi-game) wagers were legal, and only through certain platforms controlled by Canadian lottery organizations. As of Feb. 11, 2022, all provinces now allow single-event wagering online (at least in a hybrid format).

Ontario is officially the first province to allow private gaming operators as of April 4, 2022. Several key organizations in the US and in Canada are looking to launch full casino gaming and sports wagering apps. With the launch of these igaming apps, sports betting and playing various casino games would become easily accessible and more enjoyable to Ontarians than ever before.

Timeline Of Canadian Gambling History

• 2022 – Ontario launched its commercial online gaming market on April 4
• 2021 – Single-game sports wagers are legalized, opening the door to a fully-fledged online sports betting industry
• 1996 – Online gaming is authorized; land-based and online gaming is regulated at the provincial level
• 1985 – The Canadian government legalizes land-based and other casinos, alongside other gaming activities
• 1969 – Lotteries were authorized to fund specific projects, such as to fund the upcoming Olympic Games
• 1900 – The above law was changed to accept gaming activities like bingo and raffles, so long as the events were for charity purposes
• 1892 – All forms of gambling are banned in Canada
• 1787 – The first horse racing clubs are started in Canada
• 1767 – The first official gambling event is held in Québec City, marking the first gambling event attributable to Canadian citizens

Legal Online Sportsbook Apps In Ontario FAQs