Betting on sports is a great way to get into the gaming action and stand a chance to make money based on your predictions. However, Canadian sports bettors need to understand the underlying legal regulations to avoid unlicensed operators that might compromise the security of your financial and personal information.
This review of Canadian sports betting laws explores the dos and don’ts of this gambling market and helps you understand where you legally place bets on your favorite games or athletes.
Is Sports Betting Legalized in Canada?
Yes, Canada has legal sports betting platforms, although it has a complex regulatory landscape. In 2021, the Canadian government amended the country’s criminal code through Bill C-218 to legalize single-game sports betting markets. However, the bill didn’t make all sports betting markets legal throughout the country.
Similar to when the United States Supreme Court overturned the federal government’s ban on gambling in 2018, the Canadian 2021 law allows their provinces to choose whether to legalize the market. The provinces can choose what form of sports betting activities to legalize and the licensed operators.
In provinces that are yet to legalize sports betting, Canadians can place sports bets through offshore sports betting platforms like DraftKings. DraftKings is a leading sports bookmaker with a visually stunning user interface and an exceptional welcome bonus offer of up to $250. Canadian players can browse SportyTrader to understand how to create an account and redeem the bonus.
Legal online sports betting in Canadian provinces
- Ontario
Ontario was the first Canadian province to legalize single-game sports betting to non-local sportsbooks in April 2022. The move welcomed several American sportsbooks to the province including DraftKings and FanDuel. Several other sportsbooks from the UK and Europe are also poised to join the market soon.
- Quebec
Quebec didn’t waste any time legalizing single-game sports betting in the province, with the first operator going live in August 2021. But unlike Ontario, Quebec has only legalized local sportsbooks, with Sports Interaction and Mise-o-jeu being among the first bookies to launch.
- British Colombia
British Colombia was among the most vocal provinces supporting the C-218 bill and it wasn’t surprising that they quickly legalized single-game sports betting. However, there is only one sports betting platform in the province, rated by the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC).
- Alberta
Alberta is another Canadian province with only one sportsbook offering both online and in-person betting. However, Alberta is proving to be the next frontier in Canada's sports betting market and residents expect more operators to join the market soon.
- Manitoba
Like British Colombia, Manitoba has a state-run sportsbook operated by the Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries Corporation. The province had a healthy gambling tradition before the introduction of the C-218 bill, with PlayNow offering poker, online casino games, sports betting, and lotteries since 2013. However, Manitoba has yet to expand its betting options to license external bookmakers.
- Saskatchewan
Unlike most Canadian provinces, Saskatchewan has only one operator offering parlays. However, it's unclear whether they will start offering single-game betting.
- Atlantic Provinces
In the provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick, sports betting is licensed under the Atlantic Lottery. However, the Atlantic Provinces only feature a single bookmaker offering parlays and single-game online betting.
