Top Online Gambling Sites Canada

ASome gambling commissions (who ensure gambling sites are operating legally) have rules stating that gambling sites cannot accept players from a specific country unless they’re licensed to operate there.

Best Online Gambling Sites in Canada. There is a lot to love about Canada. Gambling.ca is your #1 resource for online gambling in Canada, bringing you the top reviews and guides to this year's best gambling sites & casinos. Top gambling sites according to Canadian bettors and their welcome bonuses Almost every betting company provides beginners with the opportunity to receive welcome bonuses for their first deposit. They can be issued both in the form of free bets and bonus points, which must be wagered upon receipt.

• Online Casino and Racebook. When you need a break from betting on sports, take a quick trip over to the game centre. The best sports betting sites in Canada have their own casinos where you can play a hand of video poker, try your luck at blackjack, or have some fun with interactive slots. A number of Canadian betting sites also have horse.
• Wrapping Up: Choosing the Best Real Money Casino in Canada. Canadians have the best of all worlds. Online gambling sites are 100% legal for players, and the operators are happy to welcome you from outside the country. With so much competition out there, finding a reputable brand with a big welcome bonus offer is easy.

Take PokerStars, for example. They operated in Australia using a loophole in the Interactive Gambling Act 2001. However, Australia passed a new law and the ACMA threatened to tattle on PokerStars’ to gambling commissions.
One of those commissions was the New Jersey’s Division of Gaming Enforcement. They threatened to pull PokerStars’ New Jersey license if they didn’t cease operations in Australia.
That’d have severe financial repercussions, so PokerStars stopped operating in Australia. Long story short, it’s the same idea for gambling sites in Canada.

Online gambling in Canada has grown in record numbers alongwith the rest of the world. Canadian bettors make up a considerable segment ofthe world’s 50-billion-dollar online gambling market.

A handful of federal laws address gambling at the national level, but provinces take the lead in determining exactly which forms of online gambling and betting are available. This means legal Canadian betting sites vary by province. Read on for the full story of what’s legal and where.

Best Canadian Betting Sites

The vast majority of international gambling sites accept Canadians as customers. The country’s reasonable laws and first world economy make it a prime market for casino operators. Always remember that you have the advantage of options and should never settle for anything less than the best.

One of the primary things we look for in any gambling site (Canadian or otherwise) is its ability to process withdrawals. After all, the ultimate goal of any single bet is to win money. If you have to wait around forever to get paid, there’s no point in placing that bet in the first place. There are enough Canadian betting sites out there that you can afford to be selective.

Any gambling site mentioned on this page or any other has at the very minimum a long history of successful payments to winners. Outside of payments, other things I look for include:

• A large real money game selection.
• Competent and quick customer support.
• Games with fair payout odds.
• Established reputation for safety.
• Canada-friendly deposit methods.

Legal Online Betting Options by Province and Territory

Broadly speaking, gambling in Canada is managed at the provinciallevel. The Criminal Code of Canada prohibits businesses that offer gamblingunless they are authorized by a provincial government.

Additionally, the Criminal Code of Canada prohibits the authorization of single game sports wagers. Provinces with legal mobile betting may only accept wagers that include two or more selections, also known as parlays. Online sports betting and gambling are offered in most provinces and territories, always under the control of a single monopoly provider.

• Regulatory Body: Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis
• Key Laws and Regulations: Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Act and Additional Regulations

Alberta was one of the last holdout provinces to embrace theconcept of online gambling. Things began to change in 2019 when the AlbertaGaming, Liquor and Cannabis office issues a request for proposals (RFP) tocompanies that would like to offer online gaming in a regulated environment.

The RFP was met with enthusiasm and AGLC later explained thatit would select a provider by mid-2020 with plans to launch by mid-2021.

Other forms of legal gambling in Alberta include casinos,bingo halls, horse racing betting, lottery kiosks and VLT lounges, andcharitable gaming.

• Regulatory Body: Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch
• Provincial Operator: British Columbia Lottery Corporation
• Key Laws and Regulations: Gaming Control Act and Additional Regulations

Gaming laws in BC allow for a wide range of gaming options,including online sports betting and casino games. The British Columbia LotteryCorporation (BCLC) manages and operates all commercial gambling on behalf ofthe province.

PlayNow.com serves as the only authorized gambling and betting site in British Columba. Residents 19 or older can visit PlayNow to bet on sports, buy lottery tickets online and much more. The full range of legal online gambling options offered by PlayNow includes sports betting, lottery drawings, keno, casino games, poker and bingo.

In addition to online gambling, other legal forms of gamingin British Columbia include casinos, bingo halls, racetracks and lottery.

• Regulatory Body: Liquor, Gaming & Cannabis Authority
• Provincial Operator: Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries
• Key Laws and Regulations: Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Control Act and Additional Regulations

Manitoba gambling laws allow in-person and online gambling through authorized providers. PlayNow.com is the official provider of online sports betting, casino games and lotteries. Other forms of legal gambling in Manitoba include charitable events, casinos, VLTs and the lottery.

• Regulatory Body: Gaming, Liquor and Security Licensing Branch
• Provincial Operator: New Brunswick Lotteries & Gaming Corporation
• Key Laws and Regulations: Gaming Control Act & Regulations

New Brunswick regulates several forms of gambling that are operatedby licensed providers. Two land-based casinos plus video lottery terminals,charitable gaming, the lottery and harness racing comprise the province’s legalgambling options.

Residents 19 and older can order lottery tickets online through the Atlantic Lottery Corporation (ALC), which operates lotteries on behalf of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador.

The ALC also offers sports betting, fantasy sports and futures under the Pro-Line brand. All customers must be 19 or older to bet online with PRO-Line.

• Regulatory Body: Government of NL
• Provincial Operator: Atlantic Lottery Corporation

Gambling options in Newfoundland and Labrador are somewhat limited compared to other provinces. Online lottery games and retail sports betting are available through the Atlantic Lottery Corporation website and its associated Pro-Line sports product. Charitable and nonprofit organizations may also apply for a license from Service NL to hold fundraising lotteries.

• Regulatory Body: NWT & Nunavut Lotteries
• Provincial Operator: Western Canada Lottery Corporation

The Northwest Territories are not a major gamblingdestination, but residents do have a few options. The Western Canada LotteryCorporation (WCLC) operates lotteries in several provinces and territories,including a partnership with the NWT & Nunavut Lotteries.

Sports betting is also legal in the Northwest Territories through Sport Select under the NWT & Nunavut Lotteries.

• Regulatory Body: Alcohol, Gaming, Fuel and Tobacco Division of Service Nova Scotia
• Provincial Operator: Nova Scotia Gaming Corporation
• Key Laws and Regulations: Gaming Control Act and Atlantic Lottery Regulations

Nova Scotia is a largely pro-gaming province whose residents have access to a state lottery, casinos, video lottery terminals, charitable bingo and online gambling. The Nova Scotia Gaming Corporation manages regulated gaming on behalf of the province through Casino Nova Scotia and the Atlantic Lottery. Residents 19 and older can visit the Atlantic Lottery website to buy lottery tickets online and bet on sports through Pro-Line.

• Regulatory Body: NWT & Nunavut Lotteries
• Territory Operator: Western Canada Lottery Corporation

The sparsely populated territory of Nunavut is not agambling destination by any stretch but does offer a few options for locals.Nunavut gambling options consist of charitable gaming, lottery products offeredby the Western Canada Lottery Corporation (WCLC) and Pro-Line sports bettingoffered under the Sport Select brand through WCLC.

• Regulatory Body: Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario
• Provincial Operator: PlayOLG.ca
• Key Laws and Regulations: Ontario Gaming Acts and Regulations

A variety of land-based and online gambling options are availablein Ontario. PlayOLG.ca is the sole authorized online casino and lottery providerand accepts customers 19 or older. Options there include slots, table games,instant win scratch-offs, video poker and lottery tickets.

Online and mobile horse racing betting is offered by HPIBet.com while sports betting is offered through the Pro-Line Stadium platform (19+ to play).

Other gaming in Ontario consists of the lottery, casinos,horse racing and charitable gaming.

• Regulatory Body: Prince Edward Island Lotteries Commission
• Provincial Operator: Atlantic Lottery Corporation
• Key Laws and Regulations: Lotteries Commission Act and Atlantic Lottery Regulations

Prince Edward Island is home to a limited number of gamblingand sports betting options. Casinos, harness racing, lottery games and sportsbetting are all legal and regulated in PEI. The Atlantic Lottery Corporationoffers online lottery games and sports betting at ALC.ca.

• Regulatory Body: Régie des Alcools, des Courses et des Jeux
• Provincial Operator: Loto-Québec
• Key Laws and Regulations: List of Laws and Regulations Here

Quebec hosts a thriving gambling industry that includesretail and online options. Online sports betting and gambling are offered by Loto-Québec,which offers lottery games, casino games, sports betting, instant-winscratchers, poker and bingo.

• Regulatory Body: Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority
• Provincial Operators: Crown Investments Corporation and the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority
• Key Laws and Regulations: Full List Here

Saskatchewan has a strong land-based gaming industry butlacks state-licensed online gambling options. Land-based casinos operated bythe Crown Investments Corporation and the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority(SIGA) offer slots, poker and table games.

Video lottery terminals, horse racing betting and charitable gaming are also authorized. Sask Lotteries also offers lottery tickets, instant win games and sports betting through Sport Select.

• Regulatory Body: Yukon Lottery Commission
• Territory Operator: Lotteries Yukon

Yukon has a small gaming industry powered by Lotteries Yukon and a single casino located in Dawson City. Lotteries Yukon works in partnership with the Western Canada Lottery Corporation to offer a standard range of lottery games and sports betting through Sport Select. In Dawson City, Diamond Tooth Gerties offers table games, poker and slots.

Canadian Sports Betting Sites

The online sports betting sites we recommend are those that cover both domestic and international sports. This includes the likes of the Canadian Football league (CFL) as well as US-based organizations with Canadian franchises. The NBA, MLB and NHL all come to mind.

On the international side, these books cover soccer, cricket, the Olympic games and more. In short, the more markets there are, the better.

Something else to consider is whether or not the lines are competitive. The big, international books tend to have the best lines thanks to the competitive nature of the international sports betting industry. There are a few government-run betting sites based out of Canada but their odds are so poor you might as well play a game of craps.

Horse Racing Betting

Horse racing and horse racing betting are regulated at theprovincial level in Canada like other forms of gambling. Most provinces hosthorse races and authorize trackside betting, but mobile racing betting is notas widespread.

The most well-known racing betting site open to Canadians isHPIBet.com, which accepts Canadian residents who are 18 or older (19 in BC).

Section 204 of the Canadian Code specifically exempts horse racing betting from the general prohibition against prohibition. Under Section 204, laws against wagering do not apply to legal parimutuel wagering.

Teletheatres, also known as off-track betting facilities(OTBs), are also authorized in numerous provinces:

• Alberta: Horse Racing Alberta Locations
• British Columbia: TBC Teletheatre Locations
• Manitoba: Assiniboia Downs OTB Locations
• New Brunswick: Authorized OTB Locations
• Nova Scotia: Authorized OTB Locations
• Ontario: Authorized OTB Locations
• Prince Edward Island: Teletheatre at Red Shores
• Quebec: Hippodrome Trois-Rivières Locations
• Saskatchewan: Marquis Downs Locations

Online Poker in Canada

Canadians can play on virtually every poker site in the world. There is certainly no lack of options in the market. Not only does this give you the power of choice, but it also provides access to a ton of bonuses, promotions and tournaments.

One of the things we specifically look for in poker is traffic. A lack of traffic kills the action and leads to longer waiting times between tournaments, fewer cash game tables and a greater likelihood of being stuck at poor tables full of rocks. More traffic is always better.

Candian Online Casinos

Again, Canadians have free reign to choose from the best online gambling has to offer. Payout rates at the best casinos reach upwards of 97%. Welcome bonuses routinely top $500. There’s a lot to be said for competition. You will have casinos crawling all over one another to get your business. Take advantage of that.

The main thing is to stick with big-name sites and avoid all those little, unknown operations that also target the Canadian market. There’s no point in even risking playing at some sketchy gambling site when you have so many big-name brands doing everything they can to earn your trust.

Is Online Betting Legal in Canada?

The Canadian central government prohibits sports betting and online gambling activities that are not specifically authorized by provinces or territories. Section 202 of the Criminal Code prohibits engaging in sports betting as a business but does not specifically outlaw the act of placing wagers as a customer.

However, Section 207 states it is lawful for the government of a province to “conduct and manage a lottery scheme in that province…” That section also allows charitable and religious organizations to conduct lottery schemes if authorized by local authorities.

Sports betting is addressed in Section 207 and is defined as an acceptable type of “lottery scheme” as long as it does not involve wagering on a single sporting event. Lottery schemes are defined by the Criminal Code as follows:

…any proposal, scheme, plan, means, device, contrivance or operation described in any of paragraphs 206(1)(a) to (g), whether or not it involves betting, pool selling or a pool system of betting other than

(a) three-card monte, punch board or coin table;

(b) bookmaking, pool selling or the making or recording of bets, including bets made through the agency of a pool or pari-mutuel system, on any race or fight, or on a single sport event or athletic contest; or

(c) for the purposes of paragraphs (1)(b) to (f), a game or proposal, scheme, plan, means, device, contrivance or operation described in any of paragraphs 206(1)(a) to (g) that is operated on or through a computer, video device, slot machine or a dice game.

Specifically, it is part b) that authorizes the parlay-style form of wagering offered by many provincial lottery providers but not wagers on single games.

Is single game sports betting legal in Canada?

Single game sports betting is prohibited at the national levelby the Criminal Code of Canada, but there are some workarounds with certaintypes of wagers.

Generally, most wagers placed at licensed betting sites inCanada must be placed as a part of parlays. This means fans must add at leasttwo selections to a betting slip and both selections must be correct for thebet to win. In this manner, parlays are more difficult to win than singles butoffer higher payouts.

However, some types of “singles” skirt by the Criminal Code of Canada by essentially combining two outcomes into a single wager. For example, British Columbia’s PlayNow.com website allows customers to place single Correct Score wagers because those wagers essentially require making two selections (the correct score of each team). Other types of wagers also fit this definition as explained here.

International gaming sites headquartered and licensedoutside of Canada do not follow such restrictions.

The Kahnawake Gaming Commission (KGC) is an online gamingregulator headquartered on Kahnawake Mohawk Territory in Quebec and establishedin 1996. At one point, the KGC was one of the most prominent licensing jurisdictionsfor international sports betting and gambling sites.

Some of the KGC’s popularity as a regulatory body was due tomaintaining high standards and some was due to its willingness to licenseoperators that offered their services to the United States and other jurisdictionsthat did not regulate online betting.

The Kahnawake Gaming Commission has declined in prominence inmore recent years amid a trend of countries around the world choosing tolegalize and regulate online gambling on their own. The growth of legal online sportsbetting and gambling in the United States has played a large role in this aswell, with increasing numbers of Americans dropping offshore gaming sites infavor of regulated options at home.

An example of the US role in pushing operators away from KGC licensing can be found in an agreement the Commission struck with the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (NJDGE) in 2016. Under the terms of the agreement, the KGC agreed to take regulatory action against licensees who offer their services to New Jersey residents.

Banking Options For Canadians

Canadian gamblers ave a large variety of options available to deposit into online betting sites. Most methods are instant and are either free or close to it.

Best Us Online Gambling Sites

Instadebit Betting Sites – Instadebit.com is one of the most popular methods for deposit to online gambling sites. The company acts as an online wallet linked to your bank account. You can move funds between your bank account, Instadebit and any gambling site. The service works quickly and has so far proven to be reliable.

Deposits and withdrawals are processed for free and money moves through the system quickly. If you frequently bounce around between Canadian gambling sites, this is your best bet. The only time you pay a fee is when transferring money from Instadebit to your bank account.

Skrill Betting Sites – Skrill left the Canadian market in 2014 thanks to poorly-written banking laws. The government’s stance on internet gambling is unclear and a number of payment processors have exited the country out of an abundance of caution. Skrill no longer serves the country, but there are plenty of alternatives.

Other Payment Methods – Credit card, bank wire and paper check are other deposit options that may be available for Canadians. Costs for these methods vary, along with availability depending on the online gaming site of your choosing. Paypal is not available to Canadians for online betting purposes.

The Last Word

In summary, Canada is a friendly nation for fans of sportsbetting and online gambling. The availability of wagering varies from provinceto province and the legality of international betting sites is very much alegal grey area, but generally Canada is a good place to live as a gambler orsports fan.

Today, most provinces offer at least a handful of legalsports betting and online gaming options. Whether it’s parlay-style wagers, onlinecasino games or online lottery tickets, most Canadians have choices.

One area in which there is still significant room forimprovement is in the sports betting options offered by provincial governments.Every province with legal sports betting is dominated by a single, state-authorizedmonopoly provider.

The Best Online Gambling Site

The odds and bonuses offered by licensed providers are not competitive with unlicensed offshore betting sites. The Canadian government would see a significant uptake in gamblers choosing licensed betting sites if it would relax some of its gaming laws to allow for more competition among domestic providers.