What Makes The Best Sports Betting Sites
Are you a Canadian who is looking for the best sports betting sites? If so, you have arrived at the top destination for expert tips and information on the Sportsbook, Casino, Poker, and eSports wagering. That includes advice on how and where to get in on the action. At Canada Sports Betting, we have our fingers on the pulse of all things gambling-related. Please read on for unbiased details.
Modern technology, which is always advancing by leaps and bounds, has changed the way we work, live and play. That is particularly true for both land-based wagering and the online odds shopping business. Here at CSB, we've researched Canadian Provincial Lottery schemes, Canadian sportsbooks, and everyone's best online betting offers to figure out what are the best betting sites in Canada, and how to use them best. Canada Sports Betting has covered the ever-evolving gaming scene for over two decades.
Best Canadian Sportsbook
- Spin Sports - One of the most reliable sportsbooks around, with years in the business and a guarantee of providing an unrivalled quality of odds—including some particularly obscure odds markets.
- Power Play - PowerPlay has cemented itself as one of the leading online bookmakers available to Canadian players, providing a seemingly endless range of sports betting markets, coupled with some of the most competitive odds around.
- Betway - Betway is so committed to ensuring all customers get access to the odds, that they even created a dedicated eSports betting page to provide customers with direct access to this growing market, which is also available through its excellent mobile betting platform.
- Sports Interaction - For bettors in Canada, there are few bookmakers more recognizable than Sports Interaction (SIA). Bettors can access enhanced odds on major wagering markets year-round.
How We Review Canadian Sportsbooks
As active bettors, the experienced CSB Review Crew only recommends betting sites that we wager at ourselves. Searching for the best mobile betting sites? How about sportsbooks that offer the best odds with the sharpest prices? That valuable information, plus advice on where to find simple registration and secure banking, is listed in our all-Canadian betting review and free pick pages.
As fun as it would be to make a trip to Las Vegas every time we wanted to lay down our stakes for our favourite teams, that sort of dream isn't a realistic one. Thankfully, Canadian sports betting laws have evolved significantly in recent years. Combine that with the growth of the Internet and the ability for all to consume in-depth, robust web and mobile platforms, and it's no surprise that online sportsbooks in Canada have seen such a boom.
Most of the provinces have put up their own betting platforms via their regulator commissions, but some might be curious how the alternatives compare. Well, wonder no more! Wonder no more! We detail the best land-based and electronic wagering websites available to all Canadians. We need to note; there are some serious differences between wagering at your local lottery kiosk and with globally recognized online odds providers. While some provincial providers, like PROLINE+, already have some gaming experience, there is still an adjustment curve at play for most of them. Meanwhile, many of the privately-run books - take Caesars Ontario and BetMGM Canada, for example - have been fine-tuning their systems for decades.
How Do Canada Sports Betting Experts Rank Sportsbooks?
While it's important for bettors in Canada to soak in as much information as possible before making their decisions, we do caution that not all review sites are created equally. Here at CSB, we understand that finding the right information to then lead you to the right platforms is extremely important.
As such, we put as much effort as possible into reviewing the platforms we recommend to you, making sure to get real, tangible experience of our own with them before coming to any conclusions. As such, you can expect our sportsbook reviews will truly lead you to the best betting sites in Canada. Any platform that we recommend to you is one that we also feel comfortable with using - we register, deposit, and place bets at every Canadian sports betting site that makes our top-ranked list.
Prior to being added to our recommended list - online bookmakers must meet high CSB standards, and we follow a specialized set of criteria. Our reviews are not based on payments from the sites we present, but rather on the overall value and entertainment experience they deliver to players in small and large regions across Canada.
Canada Sports Betting Legalization in 2021
Single-event betting was illegal in Canada until relatively recently. In June 2021, The Safe And Regulated Sports Betting Act was passed in Canada, leading the way to Bill C-218 being given Royal Assent later in the month. On August 27th, 2021, Canadian Bettors got their first-taste of legal single-event betting, by virtue of provincially-run services.
Single-event wagering to be set up Province by Province
Some provinces were very quick to the punch in launching their services. Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia had their provincially-run services operational on the earliest day possible, and the rest followed suit. Provincially-run online services are not yet available for Saskatchewan or the three territories, though we could see movement on that as soon as this summer.
What Options do Provinces Offer Canadian Residents?
Available Canada-wide, via the government-run Interprovincial Lottery Corporation, Canadians have a variety of homegrown betting options. That includes land-based casinos and racetracks, plus provincial sports lottery kiosks. Unfortunately, brick-and-mortar sportsbooks are absent from major cities like Toronto and Vancouver.
Depending on which province they reside in, Canadian bettors can wager on sports markets with Canadian Sports Lotteries. While options vary by jurisdiction, odds for the top levels of the big five North American team sports (NHL, NFL, MLB and NBA, plus multiple soccer leagues) are featured. Schemes like Proline and Sports Select have historically required players to place accumulator/parlay bets, but are moving into the brave new world of single-event betting as well. Go online, eh!
Betting Options by Canadian Provinces
- Alberta
- British Columbia
- Manitoba
- Ontario
- Quebec
- New Brunswick
- New Foundland
- Nunavut
- Prince Edward Island
- Saskatchewan
- Northwest Territories
- Nova Scotia
- Yukon
Are Mobile Betting Apps Available in Canada?
The smartphone generation has provided a huge boost to the popularity of sports betting, giving almost anyone interested in participating 24/7 access to events in the palm of their hand. In our sportsbook reviews, we place a high importance on uncovering the best betting apps for Canada sports fans.
Generally speaking, Canadian bettors have a better opportunity on online wagering websites than with traditional sports lotteries. That is due to a more competitive market, leading to plus sharper odds and prices. The ease of access and infinite availability also provide a huge advantage - no more rushing to the convenience store before close to fill out a parlay!
Deposit Methods Vary Depending on Where Players Bet
Few things are more personal than money. Canadians make it, spend it, store it, and move it in a lot of different ways. When betting at lottery kiosks - the best feature is payment options available. Banking apps, cash, debit and credit cards are all accepted payment methods at local gas stations, malls and convenience stores.
Physically handing cash to online bankers is not an option in Canada. No problem, eh? Jump online to experience the best deposit methods for Canada or make cash out requests at online sportsbooks.
Most Common Deposit Options
- Interac
- Instadebit
- iDebit
- PaySafeCard
- Online Banking
- Credit Cards
Cryptocurrency Options
In recent years, we've seen several of the major books accept cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and others for deposits. Some have even incentivized users to go that route. With that said, the move to legal, regulated betting in Canada has seen some of that momentum dissipate, as provincial governments aren't as excited about the crypto market. In Ontario, for example, none of the approved platform for their iGaming launch in April 2022 are accepting cryptocurrency.
Your mileage may vary. Your best bet here would be to check out our sportsbook reviews, which will provide more detail into what payment methods each book will accept.
Canadian Sports Betting Promotions
Since there are a lot of similarities between Canadian sportsbooks, many will try to set themselves apart by offering up bonuses, promotions, and user-friendly odds throughout the year. Some bookmakers provide all that and more – some not so much as they prefer to focus on quality betting options, odds and prices. We discuss the best online betting bonus offers in all of our sportsbook reviews.
How to Obtain a Valuable Yet Elusive No Deposit Bonus
Believe it or not, Canadian bettors can sometimes even pull in incentives without making deposits. Free bets are the most common no deposit bonus rewards, and they are as their name suggests.
Players may accept or reject any “free money” offers and are often asked their preference during the private account sign-up process. New customers can usually bank a bonus offer when they make the first deposit into their bankroll. Remember when opting in for any promotion to check the terms and conditions, as many will have rules to follow before putting money in your pocket.
Types of Sportsbook Bonuses
- Welcome bonus - Normally the top incentive. A matching percentage of your initial deposit
- First bet match bonus - Double up on your first bet!
- Reload promotions - Refill your account when it's low and get an extra boost
- Recommend-a-friend - Make sure they use your personal link or code
- Racebook rebates - Get a percentage of your week's losses back
- Free bets - Bet with the sportsbook's money
- Rotating promotions - Look for specials around some of the bigger betting events, such as March Madness
Has eSports Wagering Wave Reached Canadian Shores?
As eSports have skyrocketed into the public conscious and gained record popularity, they've also found their niche in the betting sphere. Thanks to bigger, higher-stakes tournaments, more robust governing bodies for events, better coverage and ranking of talent, and extremely accessible streaming options to watch the action, eSports have become just as intriguing as physical ones for bettors.
eSports fans will find options for many of their favourite games on Canadian sportsbooks. Call of Duty, Counter-Strike (CSGO), League of Legends, Starcraft, Valorant, and Defenders of the Ancients (DOTA) are all frequent finds, along with others. This is another feature that separates online books from in-person Canadian sports lotteries - you won't find this variety at the gas station.
Helpful Hint: Spin Sports is one of the top eSports betting sites online today.
Is it Possible to Beat Sportsbooks and Cash Winning Tickets?
Well, the short answer is YES! However, online sportsbooks are not a gravy train to easy living and untold wealth. Certain steps must be followed in order to achieve success in the fast-paced online gambling world. As we do, during our best Canadian sportsbook reviews, the bettor needs to follow a checklist of criteria to cash winning wagers.
Check out key criterium required to make the CSB best-betting sites list:
- Must welcome Canadians of legal age
- Popular and safe banking options
- Simple and quick account registration
- Pre-game, LIVE and futures wagering
- Intuitive mobile navigating technology
- Variety of competitive odds and prices
- Strong promotions provided to bettors
- Available in desktop and mobile versions
- Reliable access to helpful customer service
- Secure, fun and exciting playing atmosphere
- Sports, horse, eSports, casino, and poker action
Since we have taken care of those important keys, some tasks are left up to you. That includes proper sports betting research and shopping for the best odds. Also, stay up to date on current trends in the leagues you are betting on.
Canada Sports Betting is here to help you aim to beat the books. We'll help you stay up to date with the stop sports leagues via our NBA, MLB, NHL, and NFL Power Rankings, our Free NBA Picks, and a plethora of other predictions on everything from International Sports, to politics, to entertainment events.
Keep in mind that our power rankings, picks, and information on the best sports betting sites is for educational purposes. Money spent should always be part of your entertainment expenses, and not vital to your day-to-day life. Playing online should always be an entertainment-first hobby, with profits being a positive but not a necessity. Do not bet beyond your means, and make sure that you're following the rules and regulations in your province and within your preferred books.
Other Sportsbooks
Blacklisted Sportsbooks
- Pwr.Bet
- SBG
- Superbook
SportsBooks Not Available in Canada
- BetClic
- BetFred
- Bets10
- BetVictor
- BWin
- Guts
- LadBrokes
- Lillibet
- MoPlay
- OhmBet
- PaddyPower
- PartyPoker
- Pinnacle
- SboBet
- SportingBet
- Winner.com
- YouWin