Online Sports Betting – Review of Trusted Bookmaker Sites

Betting Sites Evaluation – Top Canadian Online Bookmakers 2024

*T&C’s apply! 18+

*Available to new customers only. A deposit (minimum $10) is required to participate in this offer. You must claim the offer within 30 days of registering your account. Once released, your Bonus Bets will be held in your account balance and are non-withdrawable.

*T&C’s apply! 18+

*T&C’s apply! 18+

*T&C’s apply! 18+

What Criteria Do We Use to Rate the Sportsbooks

We’ve chosen Canadian sportsbooks that we’ve tried ourselves and can give you a detailed review of. This means that we’ve looked at the best sports betting sites, keeping the following criteria in mind:

Importance of Licensing Details

The first thing you need to know about online sports betting in Canada is that it’s legal across the country. Each province issues licenses to the sportsbooks that are authorized to operate there. The likes of the Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries Corporation or the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp are among the regulatory bodies that issue licenses in their regions.

Since the laws around sports betting change regularly, it’s worth keeping an eye on the latest news to see what the current rules are. Provided you choose a reliable sportsbook with a valid license, you can be sure that they stick to the latest regulations in matters such as the registration process and responsible gambling procedures.

You should only use regulated sportsbooks, as these are the sites that have been legally authorized to operate here. You could also use an international site with a license from a different authority, such as the UK or Malta. However, if you use an offshore betting site, you won’t be protected by the local laws that have been designed to keep Canadian bettors safe.

The Key Details on Safety and Security

Since you need to register using some personal details and then move money in and out, the security of these sportsbooks is crucial. The best sports betting sites use SSL encryption technology, which is the most reliable way of ensuring that hackers can’t break into the connection and steal your data. Companies such as eCOGRA and the IBIA are among those who work with gambling operators to ensure a safe, fair setting for customers.

The best betting sites Canada also look after you in other ways, such as by letting you see how disputes should be resolved. This is generally done through the betting site, with the option of asking the regulatory authority for assistance if the issue can’t be resolved. Most users won’t need to go this far though, with the on-site FAQ and live chat usually enough to sort things out.

Responsible gambling is encouraged across Canada, with regulated sites telling you how to stay safe and where to seek help if needed. Organizations such as GamStop and GamTalk are there to help you deal with any gambling issues in your life, while each province has their own problem gambling networks that you can usually reach on a toll-free phone number.

Availability of Online Sports Betting in Canadian Provinces

The same Canadian sports betting sites are generally available in the country’s different provinces. While each region has their own rules and licensing processes, the biggest names in the industry that we look at earlier are all well-placed to operate in any of these markets. Betway, bet365, and Betsafe are among the gambling operators who have made the effort to cover all the Canadian markets in recent years.

Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia are among the provinces with the biggest online gambling Canada markets. These places have a variety of betting operators who are authorized to offer their services to local customers. In fact, the same sites are available in most of the country, meaning that these well-established companies are now extremely familiar with the Canadian market.

When you enter a site, look for the logo for the province where you live or confirmation that it’s licensed to operate there. You’ll find that most of them cater to the local market by mentioning the province in their offers or on their home page, so you should find it easy to get confirmation that you can play there without any worries. If you have any doubts, you should see the confirmation of whether you can go ahead once you start the registration process and enter the details of where you live.

How to Register at an Online Bookmaker

Once you’ve found an online bookmakers site you like and decide to bet there, the next step is to register as a user.

Once you’ve completed the registration process, you’ll be ready to add funds to your account and start gambling. If you’ve accepted a welcome bonus, it will normally be activated when you make your first deposit.

Find the Most Useful Bonuses and Promotions

Among the offers at the time of writing, we can see that Betway gives you a bet token of up to $200 if your first bet loses, while TonyBet gives you 100% extra, up to C$350, on your initial deposit. What do you need to know about deals like these before you start?

Sign-up Offers and How to Choose One

Getting a free bet or some other type of bonus provides the perfect way to start betting once you join one of the sites from the list of online bookmakers. These promotions are an ideal way for a new customer to sample the site, while they might also be offered regularly to other players. New bookmakers offer attractive bonuses to appeal to potential players.

When you’re deciding which of the best bookmakers in Canada to join, a look at their current list of promotions is one of the best approaches for seeing whether the site is going to give you what you’re looking for. Their new player promotions are usually clearly marked on the home page, so that anyone checking out the site sees right away what they can grab for free.

As well as the amount of the deal, you’ll also want to check out the T&Cs for the rest of the important details relating to the promotion. You’ll want to see how long the offer is valid for, whether there’s a maximum bet limit, minimum odds and anything else that will help you decide whether it’s right for you.

The Use of Promo Codes

Many of the best Canadian sportsbooks simply ask you to confirm your acceptance of their offers. However, you might come across situations where you’re asked to enter a specific promo code. This is a way for sportsbooks to offer a range of deals that they can vary over time or introduce at short notice. There’s a space in the registration or deposit process for you to enter a promo code, so add it here if you have one. Otherwise, simply leave it blank if you don’t have a code and look instead to see how you should accept the offer that you’re interested in taking.

Other Bonuses You Might Be Interested in

In terms of ongoing offers, you should look out for new promotions or see if you get any emails letting you know about deals. You might decide that not all of their deals are right for you but many of them are likely to be useful offers that you should look into to find out more.

Deposit match & reload bonuses boost the amount you deposit. Bonuses in other networks are similar but might give you a deal in the operator’s online casino or poker site. Cashbacks generally give you a percentage of your losing bets over a certain period.

Loyalty & rewards programs can be useful for anyone who plans to bet regularly on their chosen bookmakers Canada site. These programs see you earn points with every wager, allowing you to redeem them for cash or prizes when you’re ready. VIP clubs give you extra benefits, such as faster withdrawals or a personal account manager.

The Process for Depositing and Withdrawing

The different ways you add and withdraw cash can make any online sports betting site better or worse. You’ll be looking for a good range of banking methods and a smooth process to carry out. This makes it easier to move money in and out quickly and without any worries.

On the most popular Canadian sportsbooks, you’ll see methods like Visa and Mastercard accepted. Popular e-wallets you can use here include Payz and Jeton. Interac is another of the most commonly used banking methods that Canadians players can choose. You can use more than one method on the same site, although you can generally only withdraw using a method you’ve already deposited with.

Head to the banking or cashier section of the site and you’ll be shown the list of methods they accept. Choose the one that suits you and you’ll either be taken to that site or prompted for your login credentials. Choose the amount you want to add and wait for it to appear in your account. The amount of time it takes for deposits to go through depends on the method used, and some sportsbooks list the timescales in their FAQ. Deposits are usually almost instant, while withdrawals can take longer to go through.

A Look at the Various Markets, Bets and Odds

The betting markets you’ll find in online betting Canada sites are highly varied. The simplest type of bet is where you place a wager on the overall outcome. This is known as the moneyline bet and it’s available on just about every game, with a favorite and an underdog listed in each case.

You can then look at alternative wagers, such as the following:

The best Canadian sports betting sites let you choose a bet by clicking on it. This brings up the bet slip and if you type in the amount of your wager, it’ll immediately show you how much you would win. If you prefer to work this out yourself, you can usually switch between American, fractional, and decimal odds until you see one you’re most comfortable with.

Sportsbooks in Canada Offer Many Traditional and Modern Sports

The best sportsbooks Canada offer a wide range of sports for you to choose from. These range from the biggest and most popular international leagues to some niche sports you might never have watched before.

Ice hockey, football, basketball, and soccer are among the huge sports you’ll find here easily. As well as the Canadian leagues, you’ll find games from around the world. Click on the sports you’re interested in to see the latest odds. You can usually then filter by league or tournament until you find what you’re after.

The types of odds we looked at earlier are available in different sports when you start online gambling in Canada, although the way they work varies slightly. For example, the player props will be based on the different ways of scoring in each sport. The points spread will also be based on the scoring systems in each sport and how big the winning margins usually are. You can also see which futures bets are offered for the current or upcoming season.

Among the niche sports from Canada bookmakers, expect to see the likes of volleyball, table tennis, surfing, and others. You can bet on these sports just as easily using the same bet types, but understanding how the sports work will help you see which bets are worth making.

The Growing Esports Market

The chance to bet on esports games is one of the most interesting developments on the best sports betting sites Canada has allowed to operate in recent years. These bets are based on the pro gaming world, where teams play each other at massively popular games like Dota 2, League of Legends, and Fortnite.

The bet types are similar to those we looked at for sports betting, although they’ve been altered to take into account the gameplay in each case. This means that you can place bets such as the total number of maps played or who will be the team to make the first kill.

Virtual Sports Offer an Alternative

Virtual sports are computer-generated games played on your screen. The most popular sports with Canadian bookmakers, like soccer and hockey, are covered, while virtual horse racing is also common. Placing bets follows the same process as on real-life sports, while the teams may compete in virtual leagues or tournaments.

The big difference is that you don’t need to wait for the games to start. New games start every few minutes and you’ll see the key moments from the game on your screen. It’s an interesting way to bet on your favorite sports if you want to get almost instant results instead of waiting for the action to begin in real life.

FAQ

• question_answer What Is a Betting Site?
  A betting site is somewhere you can place wagers on different sports. These sites are popular in Canada, with sports like ice hockey, soccer, and basketball among the top options, with a variety of bet types for each sport and event listed. The process for signing up and placing bets is simple, helping this become a huge industry in Canada and elsewhere. It’s important that you look for professional, regulated betting sites where you feel safe and at home.
• question_answer What Is the Best Sports Betting Site in Canada?
  Some of the top sports betting sites available in the country include Betway, TonyBet, and 888sport. Each of these sportsbooks has different advantages, such as their welcome bonuses, mobile apps, and range of sports. The reviews in this article help to show the differences between sites so you can choose where to register. Any regulated and licensed betting site is going to give you a safe and enjoyable experience, so it’s a question of finding somewhere that suits your style.
• question_answer How Do I Bet on Sports in Canada?
  The first step is to find a sports betting site you like and register as a new user. You’ll need to fund your account with money and accept the welcome bonus. The home page is where you’ll see all their different sports listed. Choose one and then pick the game you’re interested in. Once you see a wager you want to place, click on it to bring up the bet slip and type in your bet amount before confirming.
• question_answer Which Sports Bets Are Legal in Canada?
  A wide range of sports bets are now legal in Canada. You can bet on the outcome of a single match, look at individual players' props, or choose other wagers, like the correct score or next goal. Choose a licensed sportsbook and you can be sure that all the bets listed are legal for you to make. Bill C-218 was passed in 2021, allowing each province to regulate single-game betting in their regions.
• question_answer Where Can I See My Bets at the Bookmaker?
  These top betting sites Canada allows to operate keep a record of your current and previous bets that you can check at any time. Just enter your account and look for your bet history. This is a fast way for you to check out what games you’re waiting on and how you’ve got on with your past wagers. Remember that you can also set betting limits to ensure that you gamble responsibly at all times.
• question_answer Are Bets Taxable in Canada?
  At the time of writing, paragraph 40(2)(f) of the Income Tax Act confirms that Canadians don’t pay taxes on any winnings they claim from sports betting or other types of gambling. This applies in all of the country’s provinces. You should bear in mind that you need to declare any interest that it earned on your winnings, using a T5 form to do this.
• question_answer How Does a Bookmaker Earn Its Money?
  The odds offered on sportsbooks take into account the need for them to make an overall profit. Ideally, an equal number of players will bet on each outcome, but this isn’t always going to be the case. Therefore, they use a method known as the vigorish or vig to try to ensure that they pay out less than they receive in bets.