Best Canadian sports betting sites in 2023

Up until this year, single-game betting had been illegal in Canada, with residents only being able to place sports wagers on a parlay basis – which involves betting on the outcome of multiple events at once – or else bet with an offshore gaming operator.

But this all changed as of August 27, 2021, as single-game sports betting was finally legalized by the federal government. Following this, seven Canadian provinces – including Ontario, British Columbia, Newfoundland, Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Manitoba and New Brunswick – announced they would be launching new regulated markets for single-event sports betting.

BC sports betting fans, for instance, can now bet on major games like the Super Bowl, Stanley Cup, or the NBA Finals, and the BC Lottery Corporation is taking wagers on individual events. In ON, meanwhile, the OLG’s Proline+ product now offers single-event betting, enabling Ontario players to place bets from their mobile, tablet, or desktop.

The list of Canada’s favourite sports and sporting events to bet on is pretty extensive. Whether you’re looking for odds on the Stanley Cup, or to back the Raptors or Blue Jays this season, we’ve got your covered in our expert guides.

There are several different ways in which you can place a sports bet. We’ll take you through some of the best bets available on the market today, from moneyline and point spread to live betting.

Moneyline betting

One of the most popular bet types, the moneyline is simply wagering on which team will win the game. Teams with a minus sign in front of them are the favourites, while teams represented with a plus sign are the underdogs.

So, if you were to back the Toronto Raptors to win an NBA game, you would make C$300 profit, plus your C$100 stake back for C$400 total return. On the other hand, if you backed the favourites, the Cleveland Cavaliers, you would only make a profit of C$40, plus your C$100 stake back for a total return of C$140.

Spread betting

You’ll also find spread betting (also referred to as point spreads) on Canadian sportsbooks. These simplify sports gambling on events where one team or player is clearly superior to the other.

In sports spread betting, you’re betting on your chosen team or player to win by so many points. The spread is set by sportsbook traders. For example, Toronto Maple Leafs are listed with a -2 spread. They have to win by two or more points for the bet to come off.

Totals bet (over/under)

Also known as over/under betting, a totals bet is the combined score of two teams in any given sporting event. Oddsmakers are responsible for setting the totals number, and bettors then need to determine whether the total number of points scored by both teams will go ‘over’ or ‘under’ the oddsmaker’s total.

Prop bets

Prop bets, or proposition bets, are bets based on occurrences or non-occurrences during a game or match that don’t necessarily impact the overall result or outcome. Examples of prop bets include things like how many shots a particular player will make in a basketball game, or the total number of touchdowns in the Super Bowl.

Futures bets

As the name suggests, this is a wager on an event or outcome that will take place in the more distant future (beyond the current day or week). These bets usually relate to end of season results, like betting on a team to win a championship. For instance, you could bet on who will win the next Super Bowl after one has just finished, or bet on the NBA Finals before the season has even begun.

Parlay bets

Also called ‘accumulators’ or ‘multis’, parlay bets allow you to place bets on multiple games or events at once. Potential payouts on parlay bets can be massive, but remember if you bet on multiple games and just one loses, you’ll win nothing!

Live betting

Live sports betting, or in-play betting, is when you can place a bet through a sportsbook while a game is happening. You can do so on desktop or a sports betting app on mobile.

The odds will fluctuate very quickly compared to pre-match markets, so you’ll need to be alert. Unique live betting markets such as ‘next player to score’ or if you fancy a team to make a comeback will be available.

It is recommended that you are watching the game you intend to bet on live, so you have a better understanding of the market and when best to bet.

1. Find a sports betting site with the best prices and wide range of markets.
2. Pick a sportsbook with enticing sports betting bonuses and promotions.
3. Do your research and place your bets early to get ahead of sportsbooks.
4. Set yourself a budget and don’t wager over anything you can’t afford.
5. Niche sports can sometimes offer the best odds if you know your stuff.

More than 60% of sports gamblers in Canada bet on mobile. You’ll subsequently find the best sportsbooks will offer a dedicated sports betting app and/or mobile optimized site for your iPhone or Android device.

All legit sports betting apps are free to download. You can also use the feature available on the desktop site, including access to all the betting odds, live sports betting and even watch live streams of games.

To make life easier, we’ve put together a table of the top five sports betting apps on the market and rated them for you:

Our expert team at OGCA consider the following criteria for finding the best sports betting sites in Canada: