Ontario Sports Betting: What You Need To Know About Legal Betting In Canada
Sports betting in Ontario became fully regulated as of April 4, 2022, with single-game sports bets as a fully legal option. The Ontario province is home to 30 licensed online sportsbook operators. Locals can find action across DraftKings, BetMGM, BetRivers and many more.
Sports betting in Ontario is 19+ only. Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly.
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Check out all of the legal sports betting options in Ontario below.
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- High-quality iOS and Android apps
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10 x $100 bet match in FanCash - Unique FanCash loyalty program
- Variety of bonuses and ongoing promos
- Fast, reliable app with live betting and streaming
19+. Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly.
What Does Sports Betting Look Like In ON?
The Canadian Parliament passed a bill that ended the federal ban on single-game sports betting in June 2021. With this, provincial governments are now able to set their own regulations on how sports betting operates.
There are a number of online sports betting apps that are available across Ontarior. Fans can download DraftKings Sportsbook, BetMGM, BetRivers, Bet365 and Caesars among others and place action.
Some estimates have pegged the potential for a fully functioning legal Canadian sports betting market at over $5 billion in annual gross gaming revenue. It’s estimated that Ontario would account for a sizable chunk of that to the tune of nearly 40%.
Legal single-game wagering has been available in Ontario since April 4, 2022. Sports betting is available through 30 online operators and 11 retail locations across the province. Locals can wager fully at these operators.
Sports betting in Ontario is ONLY for those individuals who are 19 and older. Gambling can be addictive. Please play responsibly.
Top Ontario Sports Betting Apps
Below are the best betting sites and betting apps available in Ontario.
BetRivers Ontario
A lesser known entrant, BetRivers have been trying to make a very huge splash into the market with a TV ad blitz that has flooded the screens of Ontarians, and if it works, it might be able to convert ad dollars to customers, but that's too be seen.
BetMGM Ontario
The Vegas casino and hotel chain has made a splash with the signings of both Connor McDavid and Wayne Gretzky, but their operation is still an unknown to most Canadians. That said, given their propensity for big swings, it's likely more is coming from them.
DraftKings Ontario
One of two operators who have almost ubiquitous name recognition in Ontario, but for their Daily Fantasy operations, DraftKings have a well-earned reputation for reliability and a user-face both for DFS and their Sportsbook that is quite easy to use.
Bet365 Ontario
Bet365 Sportsbook is not a new name to Canadians, as the brand operated in the grey market for quite a while. However, it's a new day in Ontario, and residents in the province can now take part in bet365's world-class live betting suite and its flexible offerings - and it's all completely legal.
Sports Interaction Ontario
Sports Interaction offers instant payouts and over 300 live events every day.
BetVictor Sportsbook Ontario
Besides having a great variety of betting markets, BetVictor Sportsbook is an established European brand that has been around for nearly 80 years.
How To Sign Up
In Ontario, sports bettors can register online or in-person, as per an amendment to one of the bills. Remote registration is the more convenient option.
When signing up to play online remotely, the process is quick and painless. You simply have to follow the prompts and provide the necessary information:
- Name
- Address
- Email address
- Date of birth
After you’ve entered all of the information and checked off the relevant boxes, the sportsbook will create your new account instantly. If you encounter any hang-ups due to trouble confirming your age or identity, you’ll receive a prompt to resolve them.
In order to play in a legal province, there aren’t any residency requirements, but you do need to be within Ontario lines when placing bets. To confirm that you are, sportsbooks use geolocation tracking software to verify. If you aren’t there, then bets won’t go through.
Depositing will be easy, with most credit and debit cards accepted, and at least some Canadian companies allow withdrawals by etransfer in addition to checks and wire transfers, making it easy for Ontarians to get their money.
FUTURES AND PROP BETTING IN ONTARIO
Options abound at legal sportsbooks. From the various games and events to the many ways to wager, there are plenty of choices to make. On the betting front, moneylines, point spreads, and totals are the main options, but you’ll find other choices, as well.
At the top of the list of other wagers are futures and props. Futures bets allow you to wager on season-long outcomes and major championships and events. Odds will become available in the offseason, with options increasing as the starting date approaches. Top options for futures include the following:
- Super Bowl
- NBA Finals
- World Series
- Stanley Cup
- College Football Playoffs
- March Madness
- Golfing majors
- Tennis Grand Slams
- Daytona 500
You’ll also find futures for team regular-season win totals in all of the major sports, as well as the winners of individual awards like the NFL MVP or college football’s Heisman Trophy.
As for props, you can think of them as side bets on things that may or may not happen during a game. You can see what’s available by clicking on individual contest listings at an online sportsbook. The more popular the sport, the more props you’ll see. Many of the top options will be wagers on individual players:
- How many shots for Auston Matthews — over/under 3.5?
- Will Scottie Barnes record a double-double — yes/no?
- Who will record more saves— Jack Campbell or Matt Murray?
You’ll also see props with odds for more than two options, such as touchdown scorers for an NFL game or the player to score the first basket in an NBA game.
Live betting in Ontario
Based on what we’ve seen in other states, you won’t be lacking for options once online sports betting goes live in Ontario. You’ll even be able to keep wagering once the games begin. That’s thanks to live betting, an increasingly popular option for sports betting.
Also known as in-game betting, these are wagers that you can place in real time as the action is playing out. It’s a very fast-moving market that’s available at all the top sportsbooks. You’ll find a dedicated section for current and upcoming live betting options. Odds and offerings may vary based on what’s happening, but here are some examples of what you’ll see:
- Which side will hold the lead after the 1st Period - Ottawa Senators or Toronto Maple Leafs?
- How many total points for the Toronto Raptors in the second half — over/under 54.5?
- What will be the result of this Bo Bichette at-bat — hit/walk/out?
Additionally, you’ll see updated game lines for the main bets, providing you the chance to adjust your initial game strategy if you wish. While live betting can be a fun and exciting way to wager, be sure to stick to a plan and not get too swept up in the action.
How soon will sports betting be legalized in Ontario?
There has been plenty of chatter about actually legalizing single-game wagering in Canada for several years, but the effort really began to pick up steam in 2020. Bill C-218, the Safe and Regulated Sports Betting Act, was first introduced that February.
In April 2021, the bill was passed out of the House of Commons following its third reading. The Senate overwhelmingly voted in favor in June by a margin of 57-20. Just a few days later, the bill received what’s known as royal assent, which is the last step prior to it becoming an official act.
Now that the provinces control the process, each province will get to choose when they act, with Ontario taking the lead.
Launch date for sports betting in Ontario
Legal Ontario sports betting launched on April 4, a date that has allowed for the NHL and NBA playoffs, key golf tournament, the end of the European soccer season and most of the domestic soccer seasons to be legally bettable.