As you can imagine by now, the answer largely depends on your province. However, every region with legal sports betting offers a range of sports to bet on, including pay lines, futures, parlays, and props.
Ontario is a leader in sports betting in Canada, and the signs for the sports you can bet on are very positive – on par with the same sportsbook in the US.
Significant events like the Super Bowl and Stanley Cup will be popular in Canadian sportsbooks.
History of Legal Sports Betting in Canada
Sports betting in Canada has a long history. It doesn’t always look like the sports betting we’re used to now.
Sports betting has been legal in Canada since 1985, but only in the form of accumulators operated by provincial lotteries. This type of betting has a more selective feel and is more restricted than sports betting in other countries.
Furthermore, Canada has no explicit law prohibiting single-game gambling. Instead, it’s required by law — neither legal nor illegal.
This has led to a burgeoning grey market for sports betting, with millions of Canadian bettors playing online through offshore sports betting sites that are not technically governed by Canadian law.
MP Kevin Waugh has led the effort to legalize single-game gambling and has led the debate in the House of Commons.
Canada’s sports betting industry is estimated to be worth C$14.5 billion, almost all of which has gone offshore. A bill called C-218 is poised to clarify the legal status of sports betting in Canada by amending Section 207(4)(b) of the Criminal Code to include references to single-game betting.
Ultimately, Bill C-218 gained enough support to pass on June 23, 2021. From the following August, Canadian provinces are free to enact sports betting legislation as they see fit.
Many provinces immediately incorporated single-game betting into their existing sports betting infrastructure, and Ontario was the first to open the door to international books.
Safety, Security, and Canadian Sports Betting
Legal and regulated sports betting has revolutionized the game in many ways, but perhaps the most important of them is safety.
As Canada recognized long ago, banning legal sports betting doesn’t mean no one will bet. Instead, it simply encourages people to turn to offshore sportsbooks, which are not hosted in Canada and theoretically operate outside of its laws.
A term used repeatedly in this context is a “legal grey area,” meaning that people are more likely to use offshore locations with no legal issues — but most importantly, no legal protections.
Using an offshore location is risky.
A website that is not monitored and regulated in your country has little or no legal obligation to treat you fairly or, in some cases, even give you winning money. Legal sports betting has changed all that.
Not only is sports betting independently monitored to ensure fairness, but the money generated from gambling is often used for the public good. You don’t have to worry about the site disappearing or suddenly going out of business after winning some money.
Canadian provinces have been thoughtful in their legal preparations for sports betting.
Each province has its regulatory agency, and each code requires a license. A cautious approach may also be why some regions stick to only local books.
Sports Betting Bonuses in Canada
It doesn’t sound like a record, but the availability of sports betting bonuses will depend on the province — especially those with single-state sportsbooks.
Sports betting in Ontario is a different story, and the door to international sports betting has opened. At least with that, we know exactly what to expect from their activities in other countries.
It’s also worth noting that Canada is mainly concerned with how sports betting and online gambling are marketed and promoted. You won’t see betting ads on TV when you watch sporting events or advertised free game offers.
Below is a brief overview of the bonuses you can get when you sign up for a new sportsbook.
Deposit bonus
This is the classic welcome bonus you can find in books worldwide. Sportsbooks will match some or all of the first winnings, which means you can get more money to wager.
Often, specific wagering requirements are attached to the bonus, such as B. A wager of particular odds are required to be withdrawn.
No deposit bonus
In this case, the sportsbook will give you a small bonus — maybe $10 or $20 — that you can use to place bets, as long as you register on the site. You cannot withdraw your winnings without betting on them first.
Free bets
Free bets are very similar and sound and sound the same. They are tokens that you can bet on – usually in increments of $10, $20, or $50. You can only keep your winnings if you win a free bet.
Risk-Free Betting
With risk-free betting, you get your money back if the bet fails – but unlike free bets, you must bet with your own money first. If the bet wins, great! If not, get your money back.