Gambling in Canada was recently shaken up with the passage of bill C-218. This bill legalized single-game sports wagering. Previously, only parlay sports bets were authorized through specific lottery locations or through dedicated online betting portals. This Canada online betting guide will cover everything you need to know about how to bet.
Recent developments show just how seriously Canada and the government within its provinces are taking the industry and potential revenue from authorizing an expansion of the online sports betting market. On this page, we will break down Canada’s online betting industry in detail so you know exactly what to expect should you try to make some money online.
Canada Sports Betting: What To Watch
Most recently, bill C-218 was passed in the Canadian Senate, officially sending it on its way to become a law. This bill authorized single event or single-game wagers, allowing moneyline bets, spread bets, totals bets, and other wager types to finally be placed.
Furthermore, it’s expected that the bill will kickstart the beginning of a new mobile sports betting industry. Dedicated sports betting apps, like DraftKings or BetMGM, may be able to launch online betting platforms to bring mobile sports betting to all Canadian residents.
However, we still lack a lot of details surrounding this upcoming industry. This includes whether retail sports betting will be attached or tethered to casinos, whether it will still be regulated by various lottery organizations, and more. Ontario will look to have an open market for sports betting operators expected to go live by December 2021. For now, other provinces will rely on established lottery organizations.
Watch for official announcements from the Canadian government and the latest news on Toronto Sports Media as they unfold. You should also watch various sports gambling operators such as DraftKings and BetMGM, both of which have already announced their intentions to bring sports betting to Canadian residents.
Canada Sports Betting Apps: Coming Soon
DraftKings Canada
DraftKings Sportsbook is not available in the country yet, but there’s a good chance it will be soon. Ontario will allow commercial sportsbooks to launch as early as December 2021. DraftKings is interested in the potential market of the province. They also already offer their daily fantasy sports platform and DraftKings Marketplace in the country. Canada’s most popular sports, including the National Hockey League and Canadian Football League, are available to bet on in the United States.
BetMGM Canada
Also likely is BetMGM, an American-based operator that has recently spread into a variety of US states. This mobile sportsbook is known for its excellent betting odds, wide and varied betting markets, and an attractive opening bonus. It’s likely that it will be among the most popular sportsbooks to launch at the beginning of the industry.
FanDuel Canada
Another popular sportsbook option that also carries daily fantasy is FanDuel. Similar to DraftKings, the company is going to be interested in Toronto and the province of Ontario. Canadian residents can already enjoy playing DFS through FanDuel. There’s a chance it could be ready by the end of the year, but a realistic timeframe is probably early 2022.
Canada Sports Betting Apps: Available Now
PROLINE+ (Ontario)
The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLC) will operate the first legal online sportsbook in its province, which launches on August 27. Features include single-event betting and the ability to live bet as a game progresses. Other sporting events, including tennis, golf, and mixed martial arts will be available. PROLINE+ can be accessed on desktop and mobile devices. Implementation of these features is expected in a standalone app in the future.
Mise-o-jeu+ (Quebec)
In a similar fashion, Loto-Quebec offers an enhanced version of their gaming platform for single-event wagers, Mise-o-jeu+. All the traditional North American sports are available, along with various international soccer events, tennis, racing, and golf. Additional markets are available to bet on, such as specific inning results in baseball or the perfect score in soccer. Live betting and early cash out are also available.
PlayNow (British Columbia and Manitoba)
Another sports betting platform that will offer single-event wagering right out of the gate is PlayNow in BC. This is the first legal and secure gaming website to offer sports gambling for residents in the province. In the future, the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) plans to implement these features in casinos and related physical locations. The same platform is also available in the Manitoba province. Technology behind the sportsbook is powered by the OpenSports product suite from Scientific Games.
PlayAlberta
The Alberta providence features its own platform through Alberta Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis (AGLC), PlayAlberta. It features a simplistic design with easy access to popular North American sports. Approximately 10 sports are available to choose from, including football, baseball, and mixed martial arts. There isn’t much in the way of niche sports since its early September launch. The sports betting platform is powered by NeoPollard Interactive’s (NPi) NeoSphere iLottery Technology and Sporting Solutions.
Proline Stadium (Atlantic Canada)
Single bets are now available in the provinces of New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador. Sports include traditional offerings such as football, basketball, and baseball. Other niche sports such as table tennis and esports are also featured. A “Singles+” feature offers bettors to pick winning margins for various sports. This sportsbook utilizes OpenSource technology from Scientific Games.
What Are The Benefits Of Using Legal Online Sportsbook Apps In Canada?
At the moment, Canada technically allows you to check out online sportsbook apps. But none of these apps are used in Canada as the only legal sportsbook operators have historically been run by different government-operated lotteries.
As a result, 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 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.
How To Install Canada Online Sportsbook Apps On An Apple iOS Device
Installing a sportsbook app on an Apple or iOS device should be quick and simple.
- Just type in the name of the sportsbook you want to download at the Apple App Store or Google Play store. A link for the Android version may also be available on the sportsbook’s official webpage.
- Download the app. The installation will begin automatically.
- Register for the app by providing some pieces of personal information, which the operator will review.
How To Install Online Sports Betting Apps On An Android Device In Canada
Similarly, installing an app on an Android device should be relatively straightforward now that Google no longer bans all sportsbook apps from the Play Store.
- Type the name of the sportsbook into the Google Play search bar and download it.
- If the sportsbook can be found there, navigate to the operator’s desktop website and download the sportsbook straight from that location.
- Then register for the sportsbook the same way you would for an Apple or iOS app
What Makes For A Good Canada Mobile Sports Betting App?
You’ll want to look for a few major factors before downloading a mobile sportsbook and putting a lot of money into your 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, 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 opening bonuses or promotions available from a given sportsbook operator before choosing. Some of the best opening bonuses will give you a good chunk of site credit to bolster your initial cash, or even double it.
How Can Canadian Players Deposit Money In Online Betting Apps
With the arrival of fully developed mobile sportsbook platforms, Canadian players will be able to deposit funds into their account using a variety of methods, including:
- Credit or debit card payments
- Online bank transfers
- ACH transfers
- Electronic wallet transfers using PayPal and similar platforms
- And more
Keep in mind that the details of Canada’s upcoming sports betting industry are still unknown. So we don’t know whether there will be any limitations or unsupported deposit methods.
History Of Gambling And Sports Betting In Canada
Gambling and sports betting were never guaranteed to develop in Canada. Indeed, this northern country had a strict policy on most gaming activities for quite some time, beginning in 1892 with a flat ban on all forms of gambling that was only revised in 1900 to allow bingo, raffles, and other charitable activities.
It wasn’t until several decades later, in the 1960s, when those lottery corporations were formed in order to run federal and provincial (i.e. state) lottery events. A few decades after that, Canada finally authorized the construction of a variety of land-based casinos.
As in the US, many of these casinos are owned by Native American tribes. However, Canada also has dozens of commercial casinos scattered throughout its various provinces. Sports wagering legalization did not come with the authorization to construct dedicated sports betting facilities.
Instead, sports betting has always been the domain of the Canadian lottery corporations, of which there is at least one for every province. However, online sports wagering in the legalization of single-game wagers may change all that.
In the future, Canada may be host to one of the most fully-fledged and developed online sports betting industries in the world. But time will tell how exactly this industry shapes up and how it affects the broader Canadian gambling market.
Timeline Of Canadian Gambling History
- 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
Sports Betting in Canadian Provinces and Cities
Legal Online Sportsbook Apps In Canada FAQs
Yes. Canada also allows gamblers to place bets on online casinos, provided those online casinos are not based in the country. This does come with its risks, however.
Yes. In fact, each Canadian province has its own dedicated lottery organization, which runs separate events.
Yes. Many provincial lottery corporations provide a number of online-based games for residents to play.
There are different minimum ages depending on the province in question. For example, you have to be 18 in Alberta, Manitoba, and Québec, or you have to be 19 in all the other provinces to enter any land-based or online casinos.
No! Unless you qualify as a professional gambler, Canada doesn’t tax you on your gambling winnings.
Most casinos in Canada are owned by various Native American tribes, although some are owned by commercial organizations.
Yes. Bettors have been able to put in parlay bets and various props in the past, and now single-event betting is an option in Canada. Availability for any type of sports betting varies based on the province.
Yes, although online casino apps should be used with caution. None of these apps are regulated or overseen by Canadian organizations. So your money and personal information may be at risk.
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