Best Betting Sites in Canada

Where to bet safely in Canada and which online bookmakers to join?

The table you see below ranks the TOP betting sites for Canadian players according to the range of their products and their welcome bonuses in place. Study the details and choose the best bookmaker in Nigeria or continue reading for more details regarding each brand.

Best Bookies in Canada Listed

1. Betano – Best bookie for Canada
2. Betway – Best bonuses for Canadians
3. Stake.com – Top crypto bookmaker in Canada
4. 22bet – Ideal for new and seasoned Canadian bettors
5. Betsafe – Best bonuses for Canadians
6. Vbet – Exclusive specials and betting offers

Canada’s TOP bookmakers

For players in Canada, you will have plenty to choose from for your online gaming services. Amidst the hundreds of providers available, it is prudent to go for Canada’s best betting sites. In this section, we have dedicated some attention to the top betting sites in Canada which come highly recommended.

Betano

Betano is our pick for the best betting site in Canada for 2024. It ranks so highly because it is legal across Canada, including Ontario with an iGaming license. Betano offers unique betting experience for Canadians and impeaccable sportsbook.

Betway

Betway is one of the most reputable betting brands. The company which was founded way back has grown into a global brand with nearly 20 million players from all around the world. Among these are a good number of Canadians, since Betway is easily accessible from Canada.

Stake.com

Looking for a refreshing bookmaker that offers something you haven’t seen before? Then opt for Stake as your next Canadian betting site. This brand has an excellent sportsbook that allows crypto payments. What is more, here you will find home-made games by Stake in the casino section. Last but not least, you can use our promo code to grab even better signup rewards and more specials in CAD.

22bet

Though not as old in the game as other operators, 22Bet is rapidly growing in popularity among players globally. The company offers an all-in-one gaming and betting platform that hosts both a sportsbook and online casino. One feature that makes 22Bet worth considering among the list of top bookmakers in Canada is the bonuses section where you will find numerous opportunities of earning loads of free play money.

Betsafe

Betsafe is another relatively new online betting and gaming site that is causing ripples in the global gambling industry. Since its inception, Betsafe operators have always had their sights set on the worldwide market, a strategy that has seen the site become accessible in virtually every continent. Canadian players can also easily access and register at Betsafe. The gaming service available here include sports betting, online casino games as well as a live casino with live dealers. Betsafe also has one of the most interesting virtual sports betting sections, complete with HD animations and audio effects.

Vbet

Here is a brand that became so popular in Europe that it is now venturing to other continents. We are talking about Vbet, of course. This bookmaker allows registrations from Canada and it also has lots of promotions targeting players from this location. Apart from the casino, you will find their sportsbook worth your while. The odds payouts are competitive to say the least.

What to consider when choosing a Betting Site in Canada?

From the brief list of highly recommended top betting sites in Canada above, you can notice the sites have some aspects in common. These are the key features that everyone ought to have in mind when filtering through the hundreds or even thousands of betting sites before committing to play at once. To make it easier for you as a player in choosing Canada’s best betting site, we have broken down these key features below. By considering the following factors, you are assured of finding an amicable site where you will enjoy playing and even rake in some real cash wins.

• Is the bookie licensed?
  In as much as getting a bookie licensed by the Canadian government is very hard, you need to check which authority licensed and regulates the site you are playing at. Any legit site should have its licensing information available and valid. Doing such a background check gives you the guarantee of playing in a legitimate betting site.
• How popular is bookie among other Canadian players?
  In addition to the being licensed by the respective government authorities, the court of public opinion adds more legitimacy to a site. While reading reviews done by other players, you can filter those done by Canadian players specifically to get a better feel of what to expect.
• How are the deposits and withdrawals handled?
  You’d want to play in a gaming site that makes it easy for you to process deposits and withdrawals. It would be work in futility having won so much money playing, but yet you cannot withdraw it. To avoid such disappointments, it is advisable you check the site’s cashier section. Confirm the acceptable payment methods, processing timelines, and if there are any fees accrued for specific transactions. Here you also need to check if some payment methods are exempted from some bonuses and promotions, which is very common.
• Does the casino have any bonuses or promotions?
  Speaking of bonuses and promotions, the freebies in a site have to be worth your time. Reviewing the bonuses offered entails comparing the amount of free money offered as well as terms and conditions binding the rewards, such as the wagering requirements.
• How easy is it to reach the customer support team?
  Whether you are a pro gamer or a new player in the online gambling world, you will always find yourself needing the help of the customer support team. Any good betting site should make it easy to reach the customer support team. Also, it is preferable if they are available round-the-clock.
• What betting markets are offered?
  Ultimately, the purpose of a betting site is to give you markets and products to play with and bet. As such, this is a significant factor to consider. If you are into Canadian sports, check to ensure the bookie features these. Here you also need to compare how the odds are priced with other competing sites.

Betting in Canada – Trivia

• Currency: Canadian Dollar (CAD)
• Population: 37, 267, 000
• Active Players: 25,000,000
• Designated Authority: State gambling authorities are tasked with the regulation of the gambling market
• Regulated Gambling Products: land-based casinos and gaming halls, betting shops, lottery terminal, online casinos and sportsbooks
• Types of Operators: Foreign-based online casino operators, land-based casino operators, sports betting shops

Did you know that?

• The legal gambling age in Canada varies between 18 and 19 years, depending on the state you live in
• There are no taxes charged on bet winnings in Canada
• Unlike many other developed countries, Skrill and Neteller are not very popular payment options in Canada
• State-sponsored lotteries are quite common in the Canadian gambling market
• Online gambling in Canada is regulated mainly at the state level and not by the National government

Gambling in Canada

Canada is by far a developed nation offering its citizens some of the highest standards of living in the world. Just with other developed economies, gambling is a prominent feature in the Canadian economy as well. Gambling activities in the country can be traced way back in the 1800s. Over time, gambling has become a common pastime activity among many Canadians. According to some market surveys, it is estimated that as many as 60% of Canadian partake in some form of gambling every week. This only serves to show how much growth potential this market has.

But amid this ostensibly lucrative gambling industry is a legal framework that does not necessarily favour its growth. As we will see in this review, the Canadian laws have primarily been a hindrance to the expansion of the gambling industry, especially the online sector.

Is gambling in Canada legal?

Before we go any deeper in analyzing the Canadian gambling market, we must answer this key question. In a nutshell, it is not illegal to gamble in Canada. However, too many legal experts, the legality of gambling in Canada is still a murky piece of law. There are pretty much many grey areas in Canadian laws, leaving a lot of lingering questions.

If we are to go back down memory lane on the gambling laws, we’d have to start way back in the 1890s. By then, the government has begun to catch a whiff of how popular gambling was to the citizens. Similar to many other societies in the 19th century, gambling was associated mainly with other criminal activities. There was also the aspect of problem gambling and addiction issues. This prompted the Canadian government to take action and illegalize all forms of gambling. But as it goes with such illegalization, it only led to the growth of black market gambling. By 1910, the Canadian government had to rethink its stand and legalized some forms of gambling such as pari-mutuel gambling.

Since then, a few changes have been made to accommodate more forms of gambling in the Canadian market. This resulted in the establishment of the first modern land-based casino in Canada in the 1970s. Several other establishments came up after that in quick succession. Amid these changes, the government has chosen to remain ignorant of the online betting industry. For this reason, there have never been any laws put in place to regulate the online gambling and betting industry in Canada formally.

From an expert reference point, the law states that it is illegal to gamble in an unlawful ‘betting house’ based in Canada. In the wordings of this piece of law is a huge gap that has allowed offshore companies to target Canadians. As for the regulations, the national government delegated this role to the individual states and provinces in Canada, which are now mandated with controlling betting and gambling activities within their boundaries.

So the bottom line is, if you are in Canada and you access an offshore site for gambling services, you will not be breaking any laws.

Do Canadian Players get restricted by some bookmakers? Why?

For any online gambling and betting company, getting a license from the Canadian government is a near-impossible task. As such, most operators prefer to be based in other offshore territories, mostly in Europe. Most of these sites will gladly welcome players from Canada. It is just a small section of online betting and gambling sites that have restrictions on players from Canada. In such cases, it usually is an administrative decision.

The only case where an operator could get into trouble for accepting Canadian players is if the company is based in Canada. For this reason, some operators that want to appear Canadian will opt to seek the licensing from the Kahnawake Gaming Commission. This is a special regulatory body put in place to oversee gambling activities the native reserve. Unlike most of the other Canadian states, the Kahnawake regulator took note of the brisk business that is online gambling and became relatively more accommodative to online betting sites.

Due to the unclear legal structures around online gambling, Canadian players can continue accessing and playing at these offshore account, accessing the same quality of gaming products and betting markets as the rest of the global market.

How much tax do you pay on gambling winnings in Canada?

The most interesting bit about the gambling industry in Canada is that despite the unclear legal structures, there are no taxes charged on money made from gambling. This is a very much welcome relief to the Canadian gaming community. As a player here, you are assured that any money made from either a touch of luck or skill in a casino or sports betting will be paid out in full. If it so happens that you are charged some extra fees or taxes by the casino or bookie you are playing at, then you ought to seek clarity on their terms and conditions of play since this wouldn’t be in accordance with the Canadian taxation regime.

About the gambling market

Generally, Canada offers a very fertile ground for the growth of gambling. This is because people are usually attracted to gambling. As of 2017, it was estimated the market had drawn in as much as 60% of the country’s adult population. Based on estimates done by the Canadian Gaming Association, the Canadian traffic alone generates as much as $4 billion annually. The larger share of this gaming activity is currently taking place online, with the offshore operators dominating the market. However, there are still a handful of operators who can be termed as ‘Canadian’ for having obtained the licensing from the Kahnawake Gaming Authority.

Despite the brisk business generated online, the land-based gaming halls and casinos continue to be very much significant in the Canadian gambling industry. Countrywide, it is estimated there are about 220 land-based casinos. Ontario is by some margin ahead of the rest of the states in terms of the number of casinos they host. The state of Ontario along has over 70 betting halls and casinos.

The most popular casino gaming product for both land-based casinos and online casinos is slots. This is in tandem with the global trend where slots have virtually taken over casino gaming. Lotteries are also quite popular among Canadians, with approximately half of the entire adult population had participated in some form of lottery gambling. Sports betting also has its equal share of fans. However, you will notice that the nature of the sports betting markets here tend to favour Canadian and other major winter sports. As such, for any operator seeking to conquer this market, it is prudent to have such sports included in the catalogue. We will be analyzing the nature of the sports betting markets you find here in the next section of this review.

The most popular betting features and options in Canada

The Canadian betting market has, to a large extent, followed the up and coming trends in the rest of the global betting markets. This means that with the Canadian market, you will also find the top trending features. These include features such as:

• Mobile betting and gaming
  
  In a country where 92% of the population has access to LTE speeds mobile network, it comes as no surprise that most players will prefer gaming on mobile phones and tablets. Any operator that wants to penetrate this market successfully has had to develop mobile betting options. These can either be in the form of downloadable apps or mobile-optimized sites, although players have shown a liking for the former.
• In-play betting
  
  This is another prominent feature in the sports betting sector. In-play markets are quite popular for their flexibility. With in-play betting, you can quickly determine when to jump into the action, or when the price feels right to make the most of your bets. Nearly all bookies in the Canadian market offer this in-play betting option on live events.
• Live streaming
  
  Content streaming has taken over every entertainment sector, from music distribution to movies and TV series. The wave can also be felt in sports betting where players are increasingly drawn towards the websites that offer free live streaming of matches as an added advantage.

Available bonuses for Canadian Players

In a market as competitive as the Canadian market, gambling site operators will come with all sorts of means to draw in players. The most common of this is in the form of bonuses and promotions. This always plays out to the advantage of the players who end up getting a wide array of promos and bonuses to pick from. The types of offers range from welcome promos for new sign-ups to loyalty programs for players who frequent a site. The amount or nature of freebies you get will depend on the specific site you are playing at.

The favourite sports for the Canadian bettors

The sporting arena in Canada is comprised of a vast array of sporting activities. A good number of Canadians’ favourite sports are those enjoyed by the rest of the world. However, there is a general liking for winter sports. This is no surprise considering the geographical attributes of Canada, which often has long winters. The betting markets tend to follow the general fan base on the ground. As such, punters will notice most of the bets placed will be towards the following markets:

• Ice Hockey
• Soccer
• Lacrosse
• Skiing
• Baseball
• Motorsport (mainly Formula 1 thanks to the Canadian Grand Prix)

Are Online Casinos popular on the market?

Casino gaming has, for a long time, been a favourite pastime for many people in Canada. When the internet boom introduced online casinos in Canada, the market was quite receptive. Video slots and lotteries are by far the most popular type of gambling Canadians take part in. Even before the onset of online casinos, there were thousands of video slots machines and video lottery terminals around the country.

There is also some great interest in poker and other traditional casino table games. These account for more than 30% of all the traffic towards online casinos. Most players also tend to prefer playing in the live casino sections; these they recreate the realistic casino environment.

Currency and Preferred Payment Methods in Canada

The official currency used in Canada for centuries is the Canadian Dollar. As such, any online casino accepting Canadian players will usually have the CAD as a currency option. However, it is not uncommon to find bookies that don’t accept CAD operating in Canada. In this case, you use any of the other major currencies accepted, such as the USD, EUR, or GBP.

Canadian players have a vast array of payment methods to use. E-wallets and credit/debit cards are by far the most popular. Some of the payment methods recommended to use here include;

• Visa
• MasterCard
• PaysafeCard
• Instadebit
• Citadel

Curiously though, Skrill and Neteller, which are perhaps the biggest names in casino transactions, are not that common in Canada.

Bookies with mobile apps for Canadian customers

One of the critical factors we mentioned when selecting a bookie to play includes the possibility of betting on mobile platforms. Mobile gaming can be either in the form of mobile-optimized sites or downloadable apps. The mobile site option works well for those players who, for one reason or the other, would not want to download additional apps. However, as many ardent players will tell you, the downloadable app version tends to deliver a richer online gaming experience with faster browsing speeds and better graphics.

Major betting sites such as Bet365 and 22Bet have stable mobile apps for both Android and iOS. These apps have been designed to deliver the same quality of gaming as the native bookie site. Other mobile apps worth checking out for Canada players are Betway, 888Sport and Bet365.

Final comment

To some extent, the unclear nature of the betting laws in Canada has aided the growth of online gaming. More and more foreign-based bookies are attracted to the Canadian gambling market where the participation rate is impressively high. With time, we might see changes in law similar to those in the US hindering the growth of online gambling. But in the meantime, Canadians are free to enjoy the fullness of the gambling products that bookies have to offer here.

FAQs