Our recommendations may seem a little random but they're actually grounded in a lot of intense research, with all of them being held up against a strict set of criteria:

• There must be a brilliant welcome bonus package for new players
• Very attractive odds & fixtures across a variety of different sports
• Plenty of secure & reputable banking options
• A dedicated support team available around the clock
• Excellent compatibility with all popular smartphones & tablets

In Canada, players have tons of sites to choose from and they’ll all offer odds on which team they think is the favourite and which is the underdog. For your part, it’s really important to understand how those odds work.

The best betting sites in Canada use what are called "moneyline" odds. It’s an easy way for the casino to account for the skill differences between teams and still offer players a simple bet on which team will win.

To bet online on sports is an exhilarating way to feel more involved with your local team. Now that you can do it online it’s easier and more accessible than ever.

Moneyline odds might look complicated but they’re actually really simple. First you’ll see both teams listed with a number next to them. One might be -200, for example, and the other +250.

• The negative number means that team is the favourite. Whatever the number is, that’s how much you have to bet to win back $100 in profit.
• For example, the Blue Jays are listed at -200. You have to bet $200 to get $100 in winnings.
• The positive number means that team is the underdog. If you bet $100 on them, the positive number tells you how much you’ll make in winnings.
• For example, the Canucks are listed at +200. If you bet $100, you’ll make $200 in winnings on top of your bet.

If you’re using sportsbooks based outside of North America, you’ll often see what’s called Fractional Odds and Decimal Odds. Again, these might look tricky but once you learn the basics they’re a piece of cake.

• Fractional and decimal odds both tell you the payout you’ll receive on a bet.
• If a bet has odds of 2/1, for example, it means you’ll receive twice your bet back in winnings, plus your original bet. The same bet would be shown as 3.00 in a decimal system.
• If a bet has odds of 1/3 it means you’ll only get back a third of your wager in winnings on top of your original bet. The same bet is expressed as 1.33 in decimal odds.
• Use a conversion table or an online odds calculator to figure bets out quickly or us an odds converter to switch from one system to the other.

Point Spread:

A point spread is another way for sportsbooks to offer simple bets on who will win even though one team is usually much better than the other. It basically means you’re betting on a team to win by at least a certain number of points.

• The Maple Leafs are listed at -2 point spread. That means they have to win by two or more goals for a bet on them to win.
• The Devils are listed at +2 which means a bet on them will win if they win the game, tie, or lose by only one point.
• In baseball the point spread is also called the run line.

There are millions of other people betting sports right now and the casinos won’t always give you the best deal without a little work on your part. Here are our top tips to max out your sports betting value:

• Compare Odds In Advance: You don't need to have an account to compare the sites' odds. There are even very good odds comparison sites which compile odds over many sportsbooks on any number of markets. Choose your market carefully and hunt out the value. It's common to find wildly different points spreads at different sportsbooks and it all depends on how the books are being made.
• Claim A Big Bonus: Sportsbooks aren't known for their big welcome bonuses but that doesn't mean you can't find one if you look hard enough. I addition to welcome bonuses, some sites offer cashback offers, enhanced odds, and refer-a-friend bonuses if you bring a pal on-board.
• Make Your Bets Early: Since lines change, taking early odds can sometimes give you a huge advantage over everyone else. Choose your markets wisely and put out some bets months before an event.

There are all kinds of popular online betting sites Canada gambling fans can get their mittens on.

The best betting sites do their best to hook in players in with promises of big betting bonuses and bigger payouts with every win; some even promise payouts on losses.

Here are some of the biggest incentives sportsbooks will give you for your business:

• Low-juice sites give better odds than most sites. The standard moneyline on a certain game, for example, might be -110 but these special sites will offer the same bet at -105. That means you can win the same $100 for $5 less by playing there.
• Other online sports betting sites in Canada include cashback and special deposit offers that will match your first deposit.
• Remember to check out the Live In-Game Betting markets too. With these markets, you can bet on the action as it happens in real time. Some Canada-friendly sportsbooks will even give you free cash to bet on "in-running" markets.
• If you love the NHL, some Canuck sites have reduced juice on selected hockey matches. To attract players, the big sites also offer better odds, special lines and reduced point spreads on certain matches.

There are 3 common types of betting odds used at sport books, Decimal Odds, Fractional Odds and American Odds.

Let's face it, if online sports betting Canada residents were only allowed to bet on Canadian leagues, the sites wouldn't be very successful. Sure, CFL is exciting, but the season is so short and there are so few teams, it’s going to leave everyone wanting more.

Thankfully, the biggest and best online betting sites Canadian players can enjoy on the Internet have access to markets for every game in every major league international sport, including:

• MLB baseball
• NBA basketball
• NFL football
• English Premier League Soccer
• NCAA basketball
• Golf
• Tennis
• Lacrosse
• Darts
• Bowling

If you’ve ever heard people talk about a points spread or line bet and you’ve felt confused, don’t worry. It’s really simple.

They’re both ways for the sportsbook to put different teams on an equal footing for making bets. It’s necessary because people want to bet on one of the teams to win, but usually one team is going to win way more often than the other.

Casinos account for this by taking points from the favourite and giving them to the underdog to even things up. In simple terms it means that the favourite has to win the game by a certain number of points in order to win the bet.

• Two teams are playing each other. One’s a big favourite over the other.
• The game is listed at Ottowa Senators -1.5 and Toronto Maple Leafs +1.5.
• That means if you wager on the Senators to win, they have to win by two or more points for your bet to win.
• If you wager on the Leafs to win, they can either win the game, tie or lose by one point and you’ll still win your bet.

For an NFL example, let’s imagine the Falcons are taking on the 49ers:

• The game is listed as Atlanta Falcons -4.5 and San Francisco 49ers +4.5.
• As long as the Falcons win by 5 points or more, a bet on them wins.
• A bet on the 49ers will win if the 49ers win, tie or lose by less than five points.

Because it affects whether you win or lose, the line is really important. Always remember that different sites set different lines. As a player it’s up to you to find the best lines and bet wisely.

Canada's government-run betting sites like Pro Line, Sports Action and Sports Select, for example, offer worse lines than most independent sports betting sites. Use our site reviews and rankings to find the best deals and the best odds for the sports you want to bet on.

NFL, CFL, NBA, and NHL are some of the sports leagues you can make bets on through online gambling sites. With 32 teams to bet on and 17 weeks of games, the NFL, or National Football League, is one of the most popular and lucrative sports to get involved with, including NFL betting.

Equally as exciting, the Canadian Football League offers a 20 week period for fans of the game to make wagers and win more cash. There’s huge winning potential with betting in the CFL, so if you are a fan of the sport, then make it more exciting by placing a bet on your favourite team.

Football not your thing? Well, why not basketball? The NBA, the National Basketball Association, is the most prominent basketball league not only in North America, but the entire world. There just isn’t anything quite like it anywhere else. If you enjoy the sport and want to make some quick cash, then place your bets and cross your fingers for a big win.

Hey now, you didn’t think we forgot about the National Hockey League did you? The NHL is the best hockey league on the planet - and we Canadians absolutely love the sport. We know you have an eye for predicting the outcome of the sport. Why not make it more interesting and put some real money where your mouth is by betting on some NHL lines?

Betting at a Canadian sportsbook on the web can seem complicated, especially if it’s your first time. Just relax and focus on these key points to find the best sites and sportsbooks to sign up with.

• Some websites only cater to diehard online sports betting fans who have a history of wagering on sports. Other sportsbooks, meanwhile, keep things way too simple and don't offer the kinds of bets serious some players demand. Pick a site that caters to YOUR needs.
• Take a shortcut and refer to our comprehensive ranking of online casinos that offer sport betting to Canadian players.
• We test Internet sportsbooks for safety, security, range of markets, good odds and great customer service. Our experts are sports bettors with years of experience, and our opinions and comparisons count.

When it comes to the top Canadian online betting sites, you deserve the best advice. If a sportsbook isn't the best, it won't get onto our list – simple.

Use the online sports gambling download links on these pages to get started. When you click one, you'll know you're betting on sports at a site that's fair and reputable. You can also benefit from a top real money CA currency sports betting bonus at the same time.

For everything online sports betting, Canada app and mobile gamers need only one site - OnlineGambling.ca! And remember, you can create a free account at a gambling website without having to place a bet. So start now and back a winner today.