Sports Betting in Ontario - Top Online Sportsbooks for Real Money
With the launch of over 40 localized iGaming sites, Ontario has become the best province for passionate players. From the NBA to the NHL, Canadian football to International Soccer, you can wager on all the popular sports in Ontario. You will find thousands of markets and great odds at these top Ontario sports betting sites.
The 10 Best Legal Ontario Online Gambling Sites for Sports Betting
- Bet on 20+ Sports Markets With 24/7 Support
Whether you want to bet on the NHL, NBA, NFL, or Aussie Open, BetMGM Ontario is a good platform to do so. This site also covers eSports leagues. Banking methods include VISA & Apple Pay.
- World-Class Ontario Betting Site to engage in NBA, NHL, and PGA Tour
Covers a wide range of sports such as Formula 1, Boxing, Darts and eSports with a user-friendly website interface. Offers live betting on sports like Tennis, Soccer, and Hockey.
- Bet Responsibly on the Caesars Mobile App
Provides various responsible gambling resources such as Self-Exclusion, Deposit/Spend Limits, and Timeout. Covers a wide variety of games such as Football, Horse Racing, and Auto Racing.
- Best Fantasy Betting Site in Ontario With Multiple Leagues
Accepts banking options such as Visa, MasterCard, and PayPal. Covers major sport leagues such as NHL, NBA, and NFL. Offers live betting on sports like Tennis, Soccer, and Table Tennis.
- Bet on Live Matches on the Unibet Mobile App
Unibet offers over 30 sports and various leagues for Ontario players. There are also daily profit boosts and weekly free bets to enjoy. You can also bet on virtual sports.
- Enjoy 35+ Sports Markets Including Hockey and Basketball
Mobile sports betting app in Ontario for iOS and Android users. Promotes responsible gambling by offering tools such as Deposit Limits, Wager Limits, and Time Limits. Live chat and email support available.
- Best Live Betting Site for Basketball, Table Tennis, and Volleyball
Accepts a wide range of payment options such as Interac, Visa, and Paysafe Card. Covers a variety of niche sports such as Chess, Darts, and Pool. Offers live chat and email support.
- Best Ontario Soccer Betting Site With 40 Sports Markets
Provides various RG tools such as Timeout and Self-Exclusion. Players can bet on politics and special events in the entertainment industry. Covers niche sports like Surfing, Darts, and Chess.
- Bet Live on Multiple eSports Leagues on Rivalry
Covers a wide range of sports such as the NFL, Basketball, Volleyball, and MMA. Offers a live betting feature such as Soccer, Basketball, and Hockey.
- Enjoy betting on Counter Strike 2 and Other eSports
Offers a wide variety of sports betting options such as Hockey, Football, and Basketball. Tonybet Ontario even overs a variety of niche sports like Squash, Darts, and Water Polo.
- Mobile-First Sportsbooks Offering Boosted Odds
Best known for its LeoBoosts feature. Offers a variety of special bets. Covers a wide range of sports such as Football, Hockey, and Basketball with live betting options.
- Best Ontario Sportsbook for Payments Including Interac
Offers live betting on sports like Soccer, Tennis, and Cricket. Accepts payment methods such as MuchBetter, Visa, MasterCard, and Apple Pay. Offers eSports betting on Dota 2, and Rainbow 6.
- Enjoy the Best Betting Odds With Betway Boost
Offers a mobile app for Android and iOS users. Provides top-notch responsible gambling tools and resources. Covers a variety of sports such as Football, Hockey, and Soccer.
- Get Boosted Odds on Your Favorite Sports at DraftKings Ontario
Features fantasy sports betting with options like Fantasy NFL and NHL. Offers DK Horse, a dedicated platform for Horse Racing. Live betting feature on sports such as Football and Hockey.
- Bet on Football, Basketball and More on Powerplay
Customer support is accessible 24/7 via live chat and email. Supports a wide range of banking options such as Visa, Interac, and MuchBetter. Offers live sports betting in Ontario.
- Get House Special Bets and iRush Rewards on BetRivers
Covers a wide range of sports such as Basketball, Baseball, and Hockey with mobile apps for iOS and Android users. Offers live betting on several sports like Football, Tennis, and Darts.
- Enjoy NBA, NHL, NFL & eSports Betting Live
Bet99 Ontario offers top-notch mobile apps for iOS & Android. Also supports live betting on several sports leagues. Customer support is accessible 24/7 via live chat and email.
- 30+ Sports Markets With a Bet Builder Feature
Covers a wide range of sports such as Football, Horse Racing, Golf. Promotes responsible betting by offering tools such as Deposit Limits, Timeouts, and Self Exclusion.
- Top NFL Betting Site With iOS and Android Apps
TheScore Bet Ontario covers a wide range of sports such as Basketball, Cricket, Darts, and Lacrosse. Offers a live betting feature on sports such as Soccer, Darts, and Volleyball.
- Enjoy HD Live Streaming and Bet in Real Time
Known for its popular Daily Pick and Win. Offers virtual sports betting options such as Football, Basketball, and Hockey. Partners with Basketball superstar, Giannis Antetokounmpo.
- Top Ontario Sportsbook for Cross-Country Tournaments
24/7 customer support via live chat, email, and phone. Implements RG measures like Deposit Limits, Reality Checks, and Timeout. Offers live betting on sports such as Tennis, Soccer, and Cricket.
- Enjoy Personal Bet Configurator With Cashout Control
The Ontario betting site covers a variety of sports such as Soccer, Basketball, and Tennis along with niche sports like Darts and Snooker. Customer support is accessible via live chat and email.
- Get the Best Odds With the Daily Bet Booster Feature
User-friendly website interface with a wide range of payment options such as Visa, MasterCard, AMEX, and PayPal. Covers a variety of eSports like Call of Duty, Counter Strike 2, and Valorant.
- 35+ Sports Markets With iOS and Android Apps
Party Sportsbook Ontario promotes responsible betting by offering tools such as Timeouts, Stake Limits, and Self Exclusion. Supports a wide range of banking options such as Google Pay, Skrill, Paysafe Card, and Interac.
- Safe and Secure Live Betting With Boosted Odds
Known for its innovative Betsafe Million feature. Accepts a wide range of payment methods such as Neteller, Interac, Visa, and Skrill. Features options like Football, Baseball, Chess, and eSports.
- Top-Notch User Interface with Competitive Odds
Over 20 years of experience in dealing with players from over 100 different countries. Pinnacle Ontario Sportsbook covers a wide variety of eSports such as Valorant, Rainbow 6, and Dota 2.
- Best for Its Variety of Sports Markets and Betting Options
Partners with organizations such as ConnexOntario and the Responsible Gambling Council (RGC). Accepts payment options such as Visa, MasterCard, and Interac.
- Enjoy Live Betting in Ontario with Boosted NBA Odds
Only sportsbook to bet on PSS Poker Specials. Offers 20+ markets with even less popular sports like cycling. Provides counselling services for at-risk bettors.
- Live Stream Soccer Games and Bet On Them Live
PointsBet Ontario covers sports such as Hockey, Golf, UFC, and Basketball. Customer support is accessible 24/7 via phone, live chat, and email. Supports banking options like Interac, PayPal, and Visa.
Ready to discover more about sports betting? Keep reading and find what sports are available, and how to wager on them. In addition, you’ll find tips that’ll help you have a safe and exciting online gambling experience.
Before you can participate in Ontario online gambling, you must be 19 years of age or older. All Ontario sportsbooks as well as casinos licensed by the AGCO will request proof of identity and residence from all users. You'll have to provide proof of age in the form of a photograph or a scanned document of a government-issued document such as an ID, passport, or driver's licence.
Best Ontario Sportsbooks
Although the Ontario online gambling industry is still fresh as we’ve seen major changes with sports betting in Canada in 2022, some fantastic brands have been launched already. In this section of the guide, we will show you the 10 top Ontario sports betting sites that are brought to you by the industries most reputable casino groups, each with a brief sportsbook review.
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BetMGM Sports
Popular for its excellent gambling services in the US, BetMGM was one of the sportsbooks launched on the same day Ontario opened its doors to regulated online gambling. The betting site currently offers odds for over 20 sports, including Football, Soccer, Baseball, Hockey, MMA, and Tennis. You can find more on BetMGM Sports in our detailed sportsbook review.
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Caesars Sportsbook
After establishing itself as a top online sportsbook in more than 16 states in the US, Caesars launched its platform in Ontario on April 4, 2022. The gaming site provides you with sleek mobile apps where you can wager in real-time on all your favourite sports on the go. There are 15+ sports to choose from, including betting on Soccer, Football, Tennis, Lacrosse, and Rugby. Discover more about Ceasars Sports Ontario site in our full sportsbook review.
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DraftKings Sportsbook
Crown DK Canada Ltd., operating under the well-known DraftKings Sportsbook brand, has expanded its reputable fantasy sports betting services to include sports and casino gaming in Ontario. DraftKings features over 20 sports, with top betting odds on Basketball, Football, and Soccer taking the spotlight. The Ontario sports betting site has a detailed FAQ and a live chat feature, plus social media accounts as additional contact methods. Read our full sportsbook review to learn more about the operator.
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PointsBet
This Ontario site offers you 20+ sports and esports, focusing on football, baseball, basketball, and soccer betting. You can place future or live wagers on many of the sports too. You will also enjoy efficient customer support on the site via live chat, email, telephone, and FAQ. You will also enjoy the elegant and intuitive PointsBet sportsbook app and website, as discussed in our in-depth PointsBet sportsbook review.
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Unibet Sports
If there’s any Ontario sports betting site to refer to as the “King”, it is Unibet. This platform, a flagship entity of Unibet Inc. Group, offers odds on about 30 sports, such as football, soccer, basketball, and golf, with all the biggest leagues and competitions featured. The platform also has beautiful apps that make your mobile gambling and sports betting easier. We offer a full Unibet sportsbook review too, where you can find more about what this Ontario betting site has to offer.
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theScore Bet
Operated by Score Media and Gaming Inc., theScore Bet Sportsbook is an Ontario sports betting site with a large influence in North America. You can bet on all your favourite sports through a wide range of future and live markets with top odds across the NBA, NFL, NCAA Football, MLB, and more. Our in-depth sportsbook review suggests theScore Bet is a mobile-only sportsbook but offers beautiful apps with easy navigation and an intuitive layout.
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BetRivers
BetRivers is another popular American iGaming site that has made its way into the Ontario online gambling market. It provides you with betting odds on about 30 sports, including seven esports like CS:GO and DOTA 2. Popular leagues such as the NFL, CFL, MLB, NBA, and many others are also given attention.
As we completed a detailed sportsbook review, we thoroughly enjoyed real-time betting here and also streamed some live games with no hiccups on the site while BetRivers Casino also offers a genuine gambling experience with a great range of games..
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LeoVegas Sports
LeoVegas Sports an award-winning gambling brand that allows you to bet on different devices through its responsive website and one of the best sports betting apps in Canada. Its odds, Ontario customer support, and banking system are all great too as detailed in our full sportsbook review, where we spend hours dissecting specific features.
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Bet365
Bet365 is another global iGaming platform that has been licensed by AGCO. This top online sportsbook provides you with more than 30 sports to wager on, including odds for football, soccer, baseball, basketball, and ice hockey.
Widely recognized as one of the best sports betting sites in Canada, Bet365 Sportsbook Ontario is also known for its excellent mobile interface and great apps compatible with both Android and iOS devices. In our bet365 sportsbook review, we were left impressed with customer support that works 24/7, with a live chat, email, toll-free phone numbers, and a comprehensive FAQ section.
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888 Sports
VHL Ontario was one of the first companies to launch its online platforms, 888 Sports and 888 Casino, when the market opened. The sports betting site was founded in 1997 and has recorded success with its online gambling services in many nations, so it is expected to replicate the same in Ontario.
888 Sportsbook gives you a wide range of online gambling markets across 22 different sports, including Football, Soccer, Baseball, Basketball, and Ice Hockey. The Ontario betting site covers almost everything from NBA odds to soccer and top NFL odds, extensively engaging events in Canada, the USA, and Europe. Our 888 Sportsbook review rates the operator as one of the best in the business.
New Ontario Sports Gambling Sites
Legal sports betting online in Ontario only began in 2022, so it is safe to say that all the sites available right now are still new. However, some platforms like Bet365 and 888 Sports launched on the first day while some did on later dates.
Here is a list of some of the newest Ontario gambling sites and their launch dates:
How We Rate the Best Ontario Sports Betting Sites
To make up our list of the best Ontario sports betting sites, we took the time to examine all of the available Ontario sportsbooks and test their offerings. Those that made our top 10 lists are the ones that passed all the sportsbook review factors and proved outstanding. Below are some of the factors we considered when rating the bookies.
Licensing and Fairness
Naturally, since this sportsbook review is based on Ontario sites, only betting platforms that are licensed by the AGCO were considered. We also checked the online sportsbook software and terms to confirm that all their offerings are fair.
Security
To ensure your safety, we looked at the security measures implemented by each Ontario sports betting site. We looked at the SSL certificates, privacy policy, and responsible gaming support of each option. Considering that money transactions are an inseparable part of online gambling sites, we're looking for operators that have a KYC program in place and ensure maximum safety and security for their players.
Banking Methods
Aside from many sports betting options, a good online sportsbook must provide an efficient system for Ontario players to deposit and withdraw their funds. Our experts at OntarioGambling.ca choose only online bookies that accept payments in CAD and also support easy payment options. When it comes to the payment options, we're looking for sites that offer a wide variety of methods, including popular methods among Canadians such as Interac, Visa, Mastercard, and PayPal.
Number of Sports Offered
The variety of markets available determines how you can enjoy betting on the site. The Ontario bookies on our list feature numerous sports with quality odds, including all of the popular Canadian ones such as Soccer, Baseball, Football, Basketball, Lacrosse, and Hockey.
Customer Support
From time to time, bettors may face difficulties in using different features on the sports betting platform. This makes it important for Ontario casinos to have a solid system designed to help users solve these difficulties. All the online bookmakers we have rated here offer excellent customer service through methods like live chat, email, telephone, and FAQ sections.
Mobile Compatibility
These days, every player wants to bet conveniently. And what’s more convenient than being able to use your sportsbook and enjoy betting anywhere at any time? Our list consists of only online bookies that work perfectly on mobile devices, either through downloadable sports betting apps or responsive websites.
Best Ontario Sports Gambling Apps – Everything You Need to Know
It is no secret that a large percentage of online players bet using their mobile devices. Therefore, it has become a necessity for every sports gambling platform to be compatible with mobile devices.
Fortunately for bettors, Ontario online gambling platforms do not just offer mobile-compatible betting websites but also provide downloadable apps that work well on Android and iOS devices. The mobile apps are designed to deliver intuitive and engaging iGaming services to you, hence, you will find every necessary feature in them. This could be especially important with live betting odds.
Why Sports Betting on Mobile Apps is a Better Choice Than a Desktop Betting Experience
There are several reasons why mobile betting will always beat the desktop experience. Firstly, mobile apps allow you to wager on the go. You don’t have to be at home to use the apps. You can be on a commute, waiting in an office, or even at your favourite leisure spot. With the apps, you can place all types of wagers, whether live betting or futures, money lines or props as long as you’re in Ontario.
Furthermore, wagering via apps is a bit more secure. When you bet on the desktop, you will have to use different software (browser) to connect to the site, but with apps, you connect directly to the sportsbook. There’s also no risk of submitting your gambling details on the wrong platform.
Also, mobile apps seem to provide an overall better online gambling experience these days. This is because most gambling operators design their platforms with mobile in focus. Thus, you might find special sports betting features, wagering options, and games when you use mobile apps.
Mobile Gambling Apps Available in Ontario
It’s not difficult to find online gambling apps in Ontario as many of the licensed sports betting operators offer mobile gameplay. The Ontario sportsbooks offering downloadable mobile apps here on our list include the likes of Bet365, theScore Bet, and LeoVegas. Most sports betting sites that operate legally in Ontario have dedicated apps for both Android and iOS users, which you can download from Google Play or the iOS App Store. In the case an app is not available or you don't want to download any software to your device, all Ontario sportsbooks feature mobile-optimized websites that implement all the features that are available on the desktop site.
The Safest Banking and Withdrawal Methods for Canadian Mobile Sports Betting Apps
All the payment methods available at the bookie’s website are usually present on the mobile apps too. Thus, you will find options such as cards, e-wallets, and instant transfers on your bookie app. Most Canadian gamblers choose Interac as their preferred method on sports betting sites. We have described the Ontario sportsbooks banking methods in detail further below in this guide.
Popular Ontario Sports
An interesting thing about Ontario's legal online betting sites is that the platforms are tailored to offer you the popular sports in Ontario. Check out some of the hottest sports at Ontario gambling sites below.
Ice Hockey
Even though Hockey has not been a major sport at many online gambling sites, it is different now that the Ontario sports betting platforms are tailored specifically with Ontario residents in mind. In 1994, Ice Hockey was officially named the National Winter Sport of Canada. Hence, top sportsbooks in Ontario will provide a wide range of markets and competitive odds for both minor and major hockey games.
- Recommended Bookmaker for Hockey: BetRivers
Baseball
There are about 75 towns and cities with Baseball League teams in Canada, giving you numerous Baseball betting markets and superb odds to wager on. You can also bet on the Blue Jays representing Ontario and Canada in Major League Baseball (MLB). As a result of the high volume of stats and number of Baseball games, there’s always something to wager on.
- Recommended Bookmaker for Baseball: PointsBet
Golf
Since 1904 when the first Golf Open Championship took place in Canada, Golf has continued to grow as a major Canadian sport. Today, popular Canadian golfers participate in global competitions. Fortunately, the new Ontario sportsbooks already have the experience of providing markets with great odds featured for Golf. Nevertheless, they also offer plenty of sports betting markets for local Canadian golf events like the Willingdon Cup.
- Recommended Bookmaker for Golf: Caesars
Football
The NFL is one of the leagues with the largest markets at Ontario gambling sites. Many top online sportsbooks provide even more creative ways to wager beyond just picking the game-winner. It also involves a lot of real-time wagers where Ontario betting sites change live odds rapidly.
- Recommended Bookmaker for Football: BetMGM
Soccer
Soccer is not just big among sports betting fans in Canada but also throughout the whole world. Hence, Ontario iGaming sites offer thousands of markets for soccer games. These include odds for very popular tournaments such as the FIFA World Cup and UEFA Champions League. Less popular leagues like Major League Soccer, United Soccer League, and the Canadian Premier League are featured as well.
- Recommended Bookmaker for Soccer: Unibet
Lacrosse
Known as the oldest organized sport in Canada and North America, many bettors find Lacrosse odds important in Ontario sportsbooks. Betting on games from the National Lacrosse League (NLL) and Major Series Lacrosse (MSL) has never been easier.
- Recommended Bookmaker for Lacrosse: BetMGM
Basketball
Since the Toronto Raptors won the NBA Championship in 2019, the interest of Canadians in Basketball has seemingly grown even further. Today, you can start betting on the NBA, NBL, CEBL, and many other leagues as Ontario online sportsbooks provide a range of markets and odds.
- Recommended Bookmaker for Basketball: 888Sports
Fantasy Sports
Since Fantasy sports betting heavyweights like DraftKings and FanDuel Sportsbook joined the Ontario online gambling market, it has become easy to bet on Fantasy sports. You can enjoy both daily and season-long fantasy events on these platforms.
- Recommended bookmaker for Fantasy sports: DraftKings
eSports
While there are still some limits to what esports gambling is allowed at Ontario sportsbooks, fans are already able to wager with odds available on popular games like DOTA 2, League of Legends, and CS:GO.
- Recommended Bookmaker for eSports: Rivalry
Politics
Ontario online gambling platforms also offer politics. Right now, sports betting sites like DraftKings and Caesars are already offering odds for the US 2024 elections but there are other heavyweights offering them too.
- Recommended Bookmaker for Politics: Caesars
Most Popular Sport to Bet on in Ontario
In terms of participation and gambling, Ice Hockey is the most popular sport in Canada. Thus, Ontario gambling websites offer thousands of betting markets on all Ice Hockey leagues and competitions. These include top odds on the National Hockey League, Canadian Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League, American Hockey League, and many others.
Top Canadian Sports Teams to Bet On
Ontario is the most populated province in Canada and the second largest province. Hence, it is a hub for many of the country’s most popular sports teams. A lot of these teams are based in Toronto and many find themselves in the spotlight at Ontario sports betting sites. We have listed some of them below.
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Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL)
The Toronto Maple Leafs is the biggest Hockey team in the country and most likely the most popular Canadian team to back. Not too long after the launch of online gambling in Ontario, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) announced a partnership with FanDuel and PokerStars. Hence, this means these Ontario betting platforms will be directly linked with the Maple Leafs.
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Ottawa Senators (NHL)
Based in the country’s capital, the Sens do not boast the same level of success as Ontario’s very own Maple Leafs. However, like every other team, they’re hungry for more titles and wagers would surely skyrocket if both hockey teams meet on the rink to fight for a title.
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Toronto Raptors (NBA)
The Toronto Raptors were the first non-US team to win the Championship, further making Basketball big in Ontario and sports betting markets reflect it. As the only Canadian NBA team at the moment, the Raptors enjoy a massive following across Canada.
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Toronto Blue Jays (MLB)
In 1992 and 1993, the Blue Jays won the World Series. However, the team slumped after that and only made the playoffs in 2015. In the last five years, they seem to be doing better, bringing more entertainment and hope to Ontario sports fans. Like the Toronto Raptors, the Blue Jays are the only Canadian MLB team. Hence, they also get a strong following from fans in Canada.
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Toronto FC (MLS)
Toronto FC became the first Canadian team to join the Major League Soccer (MLS) in 2007. Since then, the team won the competition twice in 2017 and 2019. They remain the most popular Canadian soccer team and have fans across the country.
The Best Types of Sports Bets
Sports betting is becoming more and more popular as the iGaming industry expands. There are numerous ways to wager at online sportsbooks these days.You can make simple wagers where you predict only the final outcome of the game or others where you predict different events that will happen in a single game. There are also opportunities to stake on various games and combine them into a single bet.
Fortunately, you’ll find several of these bet types at the best Ontario sports betting sites and apps. Below, we have briefly explained the best types of sports bets available to you.
Moneyline
This is the simplest type of bet. You just have to grab good odds as you back the winner of the game. Depending on the sport, there are two-way and three way moneylines, and bettors should pick the outright winner of the match. For example, if you believe that the Raptors will win against the Knicks and bet $100 at the odds of +140, you would bag $240 if your bet wins.
Totals
It is a specific wager on the total score of the two teams in a game. Ontario gambling websites determine the line and you have to bet on whether the score (or any other stats) will be over or under. Popularly known as over/under bets, the totals indicate how many points will be scored in a match by team(s) or player(s). For example, if the Oilers and playing against the Maple Leafs and the Over line is +7.5, you can place a wager that the combined score will be over or under 7.5 goals.
Spread Bet
This is a type of wager where you are betting on one of the two teams to win a match and by how many points. It’s a way for operators to balance the odds and increase the traffic on specific games. The favourite will have the spread shown as a number that indicates the margin that the team or player should win by, and the spread for the underdog indicates the margin by which the team or player can lose for you to still win the bet.
Parlay
A parlay is the combination of many bets. To win a parlay, you must win all the individual bets in the combinations. Due to the low probability of winning, it sees the odds multiplied and usually offers huge payouts. If one of the individual bets on the parley loses, the whole parlay is lost.
Many Ontario sports betting sites also offer Same Game Parlays, known as SGP, where you can combine numerous outcomes of the same game in a single betting slip. For example, if Canada were playing against Croatia in the World Cup, you could bet that Canada would win and both teams would score with a total of 3 or more goals.
Teaser
This is another type of Parlay. However, it combines spread bets together. It also means increased odds and pays big if you win. Teasers are popular among Ontario bettors because they allow them to change the point spread for a sporting event, thus increasing the potential winnings. However, the downside with teasers is that the sportsbook will lower the odds if you make the bet easier to win, resulting in a smaller payout if the bet wins.
Futures
Although the term ‘future’ may be loosely used for all types of bets (since the results will be known in the future), it specifically refers to betting on results that will not be settled for a longer time. For instance, you can wager on the team to win the Larry O’Brien NBA Championship Trophy at the beginning of the NBA season.
Insider Tips When Betting on Sports
Placing wagers online can be very exciting, but may also turn out to be frustrating at other times. To enjoy sports betting, you must participate with a plan. Here are some tips that can enhance your Ontario online gambling experience:
- Start with small bets: If you’re a newbie, we recommend that you start by wagering small amounts even if you see great odds. First, start by creating a budget and separating your playing money from other funds. Then divide your entire bankroll and determine what events to place how much on. Doing this will help you understand the activity while facing fewer risks of losing.
- Pick a sport you understand: Most times, betting accurately requires knowledge. If you don’t understand what you’re wagering on, you’ll find it difficult to choose the right teams or players to back. You may also not know the selections that will favour you. For example, in soccer, there’s a factor called “home team advantage” that reflects on the odds presented. Knowing about this factor will affect the way you wager.
- Use strategies: There are specific betting strategies that can enhance your winning chances. These strategies do not affect the outcome of the game. They instead involve plans to manage your bets and choose the right players or teams to back. There might be different strategies for different types of events.
Which Ontario online gambling site has the best odds?
Online bookies in Ontario have great odds, so it is difficult to choose one with the best. However, from our experience, BetMGM has some of the most competitive odds among them and also has a large variety of betting markets. Compared to other sportsbooks, BetMGM betting lines offer better returns, which makes it appealing to punters. Its live betting odds, which change in real-time, also offer better payouts to Ontario players.
Top Sports Betting Terms
Here are some of the terms you may find used in Ontario sportsbooks.
- Draw no bet: This is used when the match ends in a draw. Your wagered money is refunded to you.
- Edge: The edge is any advantage the player has against the sportsbook. It is used on occasions where you have a positive expected result.
- In-game wagers: Also called live, in-play, or real-time betting. This refers to a type of wager made with updated odds after the game had started and there just seems to be no sports betting without it nowadays.
- Limit: The maximum amount you are allowed to wager on a market.
- No action: When the sports betting website is no longer taking bets on a particular game and all the previous wagers are refunded to bettors.
- Proposition bets: A betting type that does not depend on the main outcome of the game. For instance, it can be the first team to score in a football match.
- Underdog: A team or player that is less likely to win a game
- Favourite: The team or player that has a better chance of winning the game.
- BTTS: An acronym for “both teams to score.” It is simply a wager that both teams will score in the game, regardless of whether it is a win or a draw.
- Handicap betting: This type of bet is usually available when there is a clear favourite. The underdog is given points to balance the “one-sided” match. For example, if Man City were to play Bolton Wanderers, the bookie might give Bolton a +2.5 handicap, which means Man City has to win by 3 or more goals for the bettor who backs them to win.
What is a Canadian bet in sports betting terms?
In Ontario and online gambling generally, there’s something called the “Canadian bet.” Also called a “Super Yankee”, a Canadian bet includes 26 equal wagers using 5 selections across 4 bet variants. These four bet variations are 1 five-fold accumulator, 5 four-fold accumulators, 10 trebles, and 10 doubles.
To get a payout from this type of wager, at least two of your five selections must be correct. But the more correct selections you have, the better your returns will be.
Sports Gambling Limitations in Ontario
There are some restrictions in the Ontario gambling laws. The first is age, where participants have to be 19 or over before they can wager online.
Another limitation of ON online bookies is location. Some sports betting sites may allow you to register outside the province. However, you must be in Ontario to place a bet on any of the licensed online sportsbooks. Any account found using software to access the bookies from outside Ontario will be suspended and deposits made will be reported to the AGCO. Ontario iGaming platforms will also require you to submit copies of documents for verification before you are allowed to use their services.
Another gambling limitation in Ontario currently is horse racing. ON online bookmakers do not offer horse-race betting as the activity is regulated at the Federal level. However, there are ongoing talks on finding a way to include horse racing into the iGaming framework.
Useful Responsible Gambling Tools and Organizations You Should Know About
Like many other reputable gambling regulators, the AGCO takes responsible gaming seriously. Hence, all licensed online sportsbooks and casinos offer responsible gaming support to users.These sportsbooks are mandated to provide resources and tools which will help punters avoid gambling addiction and stick to responsible gaming. The resources are also useful in getting help for those who may become problem gamblers.
In Ontario, Connex Ontario is the recommended support organization for problem gambling. Connex Ontario has mobile apps for both Android and iOS devices and provides easy ways for players to contact them for help. However, ON online bookies partner with some other help organizations like GamTalk, Gam-Anon, and Gamblers Anonymous as well.
To give you control of your gaming activity on their platforms, the best Ontario sports betting sites provide several tools which we have explained below.
Reality Check
The reality check is a tool which reminds you of your gambling activity. It will show you all the wagers you made and the games you played during the session. With this, you will be able to decide whether to stop or continue betting.
Time Limits
Also called ‘session limits,’ this tool helps you specify how long you want to remain logged in at the gambling website– which can be daily or weekly limits.
For example, let’s say you set the tool to allow you to use the sports betting site for only one hour daily. The time starts to read once you start wagering at the online sportsbook that day. You will get a reminder as you get close to one hour. Once the time is up, you will be logged out and can no longer use the bookie for that day.
Time-Outs
Some Ontario bookmakers refer to this as a “cool-off”. As the name suggests, it helps you suspend access to your online sportsbook account for a short while, ranging anywhere from a day to a few months. During the cool-off period, you can no longer log in to your sports betting account or withdraw any wins. However, any wagers you may have made before will not be cancelled.
Deposit Limits
This provides you with a good way to assign a budget for wagering. You can set daily, weekly, or monthly limits. Once you’ve hit the amount you set as a deposit limit for that period, you will no longer be allowed to add funds and consequently enable betting to cover losses on your account.
Loss Limits
No matter how good you are at gambling, there could be bad days. This betting tool helps you to minimize the amounts you lose. The loss limits may be fixed daily, weekly, or monthly. Once you lose the amount of money specified, you will no longer be allowed to continue wagering until the period ends.
Wager Limits
This term is self-explanatory. The tool allows you to control your sports betting habits through the amount of money you can wager from your sportsbook balance daily, weekly, or monthly. This is a great tool if you often find the odds irresistible.
Maximum Bet Limits
Sometimes, bettors may be tempted seeing drifting odds and the possibility of getting huge returns that they bet bigger amounts of money set apart for their needs. With the maximum bet tool, you may limit the amount of money you are allowed to place on a single event or game.
Self-Exclusion
The self-exclusion tool is the most popular when you feel sports betting is becoming too much. It is similar to the cool-off periods, however, it takes you off the gambling account for a longer period or even permanently. This is a very strict measure, but it is very useful to players who may have lost control of their gambling activity.
Best Payment Options at Top Ontario Sports Betting Sites
The banking system of an online bookmaker is one area that cannot be overlooked. Ontario players must be able to deposit and withdraw their funds safely and conveniently. While there aren't as many banking options as we would like to see at the best Ontario sports betting sites, there are just enough to help you deposit and withdraw with ease. The bookies feature popular and easy-to-use Canadian banking methods like Interac.
Deposits
You may fund your account through methods like cards and instant bank transfer methods at Ontario betting sites. Examples of the deposit options you will find are Visa, Mastercard, Paysafecard, Interac, iDebit, InstaDebit, and Apple Pay.
The minimum deposit amount at Ontario sports betting sites is usually C$10, while the maximum depends on the particular sportsbook and payment methods. Your deposits appear in your account within a few seconds or minutes. Most ON bookies do not charge you extra fees for deposits.
Withdrawals
On most Ontario sports betting platforms, the deposit methods are usually available for withdrawals too. The minimum amount for withdrawals is usually C$10. Unlike deposits, the sportsbook reviews your withdrawal request and it usually takes some time to process.
Most Ontario sportsbooks will approve your request within 24 hours during working days. The time the money will get to you depends on the specific method you choose. Only a few ON sportsbooks review withdrawals within a few minutes.
How to Start Betting in Ontario
If you’ve been betting online before, you‘ll find it easy to get started at Ontario sports betting sites. Newbies won’t find it difficult either, though, as the steps are pretty straightforward. First, you must be 19 or older to wager online in the province. If you’re of legal age, follow these steps:
- Choose an online gambling platform where you want to start betting.
- Visit the sportsbook's official website or download and launch the app.
- Register a new account.
- Perform all necessary verifications (If required, submit copies of documents).
- After verification, log in to your account and deposit money.
- Start betting on events.
Ontario Racetracks
Horse betting is not available online yet so to wager on horse races, you must visit the track. Fortunately, there are numerous tracks in Ontario and all you need to do is choose the closest one to you. Here are ten of the top racetracks in the province.
Current Status of Sports Betting in Other Canadian Provinces
Although many Canadians partake in sports betting online, only Ontario has created regulations for the activity. In other provinces, offshore sportsbooks make for some of the best Canadian sports betting sites but there are some specific government-approved sportsbooks as well.
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Alberta
In contrast to Ontario, Alberta has only one online bookie regulated in the province – PlayAlberta.ca. Other online bookmakers offering services there are licensed by foreign gambling regulators. There are also no land-based bookmakers in the province. According to SportsHandle, Alberta legislators are more open to the "limited operator" model for the sports betting market. This means only a couple of operators will be eventually allowed into the market.
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British Columbia
British Columbia quickly followed suit with single sports betting in Canada and launched single-game sports betting on PlayNow.com in August 2021. According to the BCLC, the website got over $25 million in the first two months of operation. Currently, PlayNow.com remains the only licensed online sportsbook in the province. Residents who want more options have to depend on foreign iGaming platforms.
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Manitoba
Just like British Columbia, Manitoba granted permission for residents to start betting on sports online at PlayNow.com in August 2021. Apart from that, there’s no other Manitoba-regulated betting or gambling website for residents. There are also no retail sportsbooks but players can place in-person single-game bets at selected outlets.
During a legislative committee hearing in January 2022, the Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries CEO, Manny Atwal discussed the need for the province to expand its online gambling presence. This may result in further discussions to regulate sports betting and online gambling as a whole.
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New Brunswick
On August 27, 2021, the Atlantic Lottery Corporation (ALC) permitted single-game sports betting in New Brunswick. Since then, the only regulated sports betting option has been Pro⦁Line. Bets such as Moneyline, point spreads, totals, and more may now be placed at any ALC retailer or online on the Pro⦁Line Stadium website.
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Newfoundland and Labrador
Just like New Brunswick, the ALC also controls sports betting in Newfoundland and Labrador. As was the case with legal sports betting in Canada for years, online bets can be made only at Pro⦁Line while offline bets are placed at retailers. There are no other regulated online bookies in the province.
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Nova Scotia
It was not until Feb 11, 2022, that single-game betting started in Nova Scotia. You may place legal bets at Pro⦁Line Stadium online and at ALC retailers offline. There are no retail sportsbooks in the province, but there are two land-based casinos – Casino Nova Halifax and Casino Nova Scotia Sydney.
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Prince Edward Island
The ALC regulates gambling in Prince Edward Island as well. Thus, players wager online on the Pro⦁Line Stadium site or offline at ALC retail centres. No physical bookmaker is operating in the province yet but there are two land-based casinos – Red Shores Charlottetown and Red Shores Summerside.
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Quebec
In Quebec, sports betting fans wager online with Mise-o-jeu and at physical venues with Loto-Quebec’s sports wagering platform. You can access the Mise-o-jeu platform either via the website or mobile. There are no retail sportsbooks in the province, but there are some casinos.
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Saskatchewan
Currently, in Saskatchewan, single-game wagering can be done via Sport Select, a Western Canada Lottery Corporation’s platform. In June 2022, the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA) began a partnership with the British Columbia Lottery Corp (BCLC) to introduce PlayNow.com to sports betting fans in the province.
Earlier in September 2021, SIGA announced its plans to launch online single-game gambling in 2022 via a new sports betting app and website. This plan includes five years of exclusivity to the site, which will ensure there’s no competition until 2027.
There are no retail sportsbooks in the territory. You can place physical wagers only at permitted WLCL locations. Nine land-based casinos are available and six of them are operated by SIGA.
FAQ
- Is online sports betting legal in Ontario? Yes, online sports betting is 100% legal in Ontario. On April 4, 2022, the new Ontario online gambling regulations kicked off, giving room for the top online sportsbook operators in the world to launch their services in the province. The activity is regulated by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). More than 40 iGaming platforms have been licensed to operate and 20+ of them are online sportsbooks.
- Will there be mobile sports betting in Ontario? Yes, you can wager on mobile devices at many Ontario sportsbooks and some of them have native apps you can download.
- Can I find sports betting at any Ontario casino? No, but many of the ON real money casinos, like Royal Panda and Unibet for example, offer their sports betting services on the same platform.
- What top online sportsbooks can I expect to launch in Ontario? Many of the sportsbook heavyweights have already launched in Ontario, including BetVictor most recently, but we expect more US and European brands to join.
- Do you have to place a parlay bet to bet on sports in Ontario? No, there are now different types of wagers you can place in Ontario - where Moneyline, Points spread, and many others are legal.
- Are sports betting apps in Ontario legal? Yes, Ontario sports betting apps are legal, as long as they're operated by a licensed brand and you're physically in the province while you use them.
- What is the legal age for online sports betting in Ontario? The legal gambling age in Ontario is 19, although some other provinces lowered it to 18.
- Are sports betting winnings taxable in Ontario? No, you won't have to pay taxes for your online sports betting winnings as these are not considered income.
With more than half a decade of experience, Meri Zimic has been planning, writing, and publishing content for OntarioGambling.ca and the GambleSites Network since the inception. With her Bosnian heritage, she loves the multi-cultural aspect of Ontario and it's varied players.