How to Gamble in Nova Scotia?
Provincial gambling products like Nova Scotia Proline simply aren’t accessible over the internet.
Competing online sportsbooks provide a full range of Vegas sports lines and odds that Nova Scotians don’t get from the Atlantic Lottery Corporation.
How to Gamble on Sports in Nova Scotia
The pair of paths that Bluenose betting fans can pursue include a wide range of online sportsbooks, or the Proline product run by the Atlantic Lottery Corporation. Both offerings represent a legitimate method of placing a bet on your favourite sporting events, but that’s where the similarities end.
Like other Canadian provinces, the legal age for wagering in Nova Scotia is 19 years old. Quebec, Manitoba and Alberta are the only three provinces with a legal age of 18 years old for bettors. As such, the location of the wagering service will dictate this important legal detail, which all players should abide by.
Regardless of the betting service you choose to use, players should always be ready to verify their identity before placing a wager.
The sign-up process for online sportsbooks includes requirements for “know your player” procedures, which are designed to confirm the identity of the person creating an account. Verification is quick and secure, ensuring safe, full access for the player and legal compliance for the sportsbook.
The other main requirement for betting on sports in Nova Scotia is the ability to transfer funds into your bankroll.
Options for deposits and withdrawals include major credit cards like Visa and Mastercard, Interac transfers, digital payment wallets, and even cryptocurrency like Bitcoin.
Depending on your geographic location, locally popular payment methods will be available through some online services.
Choosing an online wagering service will give you the best selection of lines and odds, along with a range of betting types and competitions that Nova Scotia Proline can’t provide.
Comparing online sportsbook reviews will give you a good idea of services that work best for you, including bonuses and promotions that cater to your betting preferences.
Compare Sportsbooks for the Best Betting Opportunities in NS
Unlike provincial games, which have no direct competition to speak of, online sportsbooks compete against each other to attract the attention of new players while keeping establishing members happy with the service provided. As such, no pair of sportsbooks are alike. Determining the best sportsbook for your purposes requires a comparison of how different companies work.
One of the most significant differentiators tends to be the bonuses and promotions that sportsbooks give to members. The most obvious examples are welcome bonuses available through nearly every single sportsbook on the internet.
Some companies provide a standard free bet, while others boost your initial bankroll by matching your first deposit up to a certain amount. Some companies will arrange a larger maximum bonus, while others may have a slightly smaller bonus with less of a rollover requirement.
The way that deposits and withdrawals work also changes slightly from one service to the next. Some sportsbooks are capable of processing withdrawals faster than others and allow larger initial deposits for high rollers.
The methods of deposits and withdrawals almost always include credit cards, Interac and bank transfers, but methods like digital wallets, cryptocurrency and regionally relevant payment services will differ from one company to the next.
Comparing promotional campaigns and payment methods represent two of the most important differentiators. You’ll also want to visit the mobile and desktop versions of online sportsbooks to see how the interface works for you. Some companies develop apps that greatly improve the user’s experience through mobile platforms.
Best Sportsbooks in Nova Scotia
Some of the best sportsbooks available in Nova Scotia include Canadian companies like Sports Interaction (SIA), along with internationally renowned companies like William Hill and Bodog.
Similar to most betting in Canadian provinces, players can pick and choose from multiple sportsbooks, finding the service that best matches their individual preferences.
Betting types offered through online sportsbooks include standard wagers, live odds, hundreds of props, futures betting and the ability to make parleys. These lines and odds are available in dozens of sports leagues and events, including North American pro leagues and international associations that are popular around the world. Through online wagering providers, Nova Scotians can also enjoy live betting.
Compared to Proline lotteries, which must operate according to restricted rules, sportsbooks can give players access to a myriad of potential wagering opportunities. This opens up different strategies that players can apply to boost the odds of consistently remaining in the black, especially over a longer period of time.
Nova Scotia Hockey Betting
In Nova Scotia and across Canada, hockey odds covering NHL, Stanley Cup, Olympics and World Cup events are the most popular bets provided. Pro minor league hockey associations like the AHL and ECHL capture the attention of Nova Scotia bettors as well, especially during Memorial Cup season.
Baseball Bets
The east coast loves baseball, passionately following the Toronto Blue Jays and baseball odds throughout the lengthy, 162-game MLB season and during the World Series playoffs. Sportsbooks offer a full range of baseball wagers for fans across the province.
Basketball Betting
Nova Scotia basketball features a surprisingly passionate and knowledgeable fanbase who follow the sport. Wagering on the Toronto Raptors and NBA lines is a popular play in the province, especially during the NBA Finals and playoffs, along with FIBA World Cup events.
Football Betting
Canada features a deep fanbase of pigskin prognosticators who closely follow American and Canadian football. NFL betting and CFL odds through sportsbooks give Nova Scotians the chance to make a play on both leagues, with the most action taking place during the Super Bowl and the Grey Cup.
Betting on Horse Racing In Nova Scotia
American Triple Crown events like the Kentucky Derby tend to be the biggest horse racing betting events in Nova Scotia. Players will be able to wager on all of the major international racing events through online bookies.
Sports Gambling Nova Scotia – Types of Odds
Moneylines
Pick the team that will win the match after the final buzzer. For some competitions, such as soccer, ties must be accounted for more often than American and Canadian football, which rarely result in a tie game.
Spreads
Nova Scotia spread betting is another one of the most popular betting types. Instead of simply picking the winner, bettors wager on whether a favourite can beat the winning margin, or if the underdog covers the spread by losing within the predicted winning margin.
Over/Under
Over/unders represent the third type of standard bet, along with moneylines and spreads. Players predict whether the combined score of both teams will finish above or below a predetermined total.
Live Betting
The internet has given rise to live betting that features the ability to place wagers on a wide variety of standard bets and props while the game is underway. Technology allows for updates in near real-time, adjusting the odds according to the latest developments in the game.
Nova Scotia Lottery
Proline rules follow guidelines that force provincial lotteries to provide a limited range of wagers, without the ability to bet on single event outcomes. Forcing players to parlay their bets increases the difficulty of winning because you need to predict multiple outcomes instead of just one.
Furthermore, the odds you receive through provincial sports lotteries provide less value than sportsbooks, which compete with each other to attract more customers.
Put simply, placing wagers in Nova Scotia through sportsbooks always provides superior value compared to Proline and other provincial sports betting. Also, the ability to play online instead of being forced to visit a brick and mortar location is a major convenience.
We provide info that gives you the chance to compare different sportsbooks with Proline, so you can make your own decision. These sites also have experience with offering online casino-style games to those who enjoy a bit of extra action on the side.