Legal Online Sports Betting in Canada in 2025

For a long time, Canada remained almost completely closed to legal betting. Because of the government’s position, hundreds of millions of dollars flowed away from the country, as local punters preferred offshore betting sites.

Everything changed on June 22, 2021 when the Senate of Canada approved bill C-218 “The Safe and Regulated Sports Betting Act” and legalised single-game betting. In this article, we will talk about the development of the Canadian betting market, the provinces regulating the gambling industry, the types of bets allowed and where to place them.

What’s Next for Sports Betting in Canada?

Since 1892 all forms of betting were deemed illegal for locals except for Horse Racing. Gambling was named a crime against religion, morals and public convenience. However, in 1969 a bill was passed that allowed lotteries to support charities and fund the Olympic Games in Montreal. This demonstrated that gambling could be a valuable source of income, prompting authorities to explore how they could implement and regulate it.

When sports betting became massively popular online in the 2000s, the Canadian laws dating back to the 1960s needed change. While prohibiting anyone from legally accepting stakes, nothing was holding the citizens from wagering their money on the offshore platforms. This led to a massive flow of funds outside of Canada. It took over twenty years for Canadian betting laws to evolve.

Back in 2021, it was made public that Canadians spent approximately $500 million on bets in provincial lotteries and $4-$15 billion on offshore betting sites every year. This was a great indicator that the regulation is indeed needed urgently. Based on the following research 6 out of 10 Canadians partake in some sort of Gambling nowadays. However, the same research showcased that most of the population believes that it is up to a person to control their gambling habits. It is key to emphasise that only 3% of the population spends 100$+ on online betting/casino monthly.

*The only province that has yet to allow online betting is Nova Scotia. It is expected that they will join the remainder of the regions soon.

Canadian Sports Betting Timeline

On June 22, 2021, the Senate of Canada approved bill C-218, “The Safe and Regulated Sports Betting Act, ” proposed by Conservative MP Kevin Waugh. The bill came into force on 27 August 2021 after being signed into law by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. This date marked the end of the single-game betting ban era in the country.

It took time to make it legal to wager in provinces though. However, it opened doors for local authorities to allow gambling to go public.

Let’s have a look at the chronological order of events linked to the legalisation of gambling in Canada:

Legal Sports Betting Options by Province

Legislation of single-game wagers can significantly improve regional budgets. As soon as the bill became active, many provinces instantly allowed local online bookmakers to operate. Others have created a multi-step plan to implement and continually develop the gaming industry.

For instance, British Columbia authorities stated that their single-game betting site will launch at PlayNow.com.

You can find the information on each of the provinces below.

Ontario

Ontario has quickly become a leader and one of the biggest online betting markets in the country. Whether it’s bookmakers or casinos, all citizens aged 19 or older can participate in gambling activities.

Quebec

Canada’s largest province allowed single-game betting on the 27th of August in 2021. QARGC are the authorised government structure responsible for licensing and regulating the bookmakers and casinos here.

British Columbia

This province allowed the single-game betting on the same day bill went active. The western region set BCLC as their main regulator behind reevaluating platforms and licensing the new ones. This regulator even has its betting platform – PlayNow.com

New Scotia

This region in the south of Canada allowed single-game wagering in mid-February 2022. ALC licences the local betting operators and regulates the market.

New Brunswick

One of the six regions to allow single-game betting on the day that Bill C-218 became law. They are the only province in Canada with two native languages – English and French. The regulator here is shared with the New Scotia-Atlantic Lottery Corporation.

Newfoundland and Labrador

Also, a part of the Atlantic group is regulated via a local ALC unit. They joined as soon as the bill was accepted.

Prince Edward Island

One more province that made betting available as soon as the bill came through. The bookmakers are being regulated by the ALC as well.

Manitoba

Manitoba is the central region of Canada. Approximately 1.5 million people live here as of Q3 of 2024. Even though they also jumped in on betting as soon as C-218 went intact, they are regulated by their local authorities – Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries Corporation (MLLC).

Alberta

Hometown of Bret “Hitman” Hart took only a couple of days to consider before allowing single-game betting. This place is one of the cornerstones of gambling in Canada, with over 10 casinos operating there even before the C-218 bill was accepted. Nowadays, with the addition of bookmakers in the region, citizens can enjoy even more variety in their leisure time.

Saskatchewan

One of the last provinces to allow single-game betting in late fall of 2022, over a year after the national allowance. Local bookmakers must undergo licensing from the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority.

Nunavut, Yukon and Northern Territories

These are yet to unban single-game betting. The citizens can only wager parlay stakes. For example, in Yukon you can create a wager on the Sport Select website, however, you need to generate a code and then visit a lotto retail store to buy out the stake and make it active. Otherwise, there is no way of wagering locally except for the foreign-origin operators.

Safest Canada Betting Sites for 2025

Match.Center evaluated all bookmakers available to Canadian gamblers, both local operators and those of foreign origin. We showcase the top choices, highlight the key advantages of sportsbooks and indicate the platform’s key features below.

Bet365

Bet here

Bet365 - Great Live Streaming

This platform offers 35+ sports to punters and 1000+ outcomes for top events. They present a Bet 1$ & Get 100$ promotion for newcomer gamblers. You can watch multiple events on their site including racing, football and basketball. The site is well-protected, with the latest protocols implemented to protect your data, and heavy location-based security. The platform is also ISO security certified.

• Multiple live streaming options
• Over 35 disciplines to wager on
• 1000+ outcomes for top events

Betway

Bet here

Betway - Top for Esports

This betting site is available worldwide and the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario licensed its operations in Canada. There are over 1000+ outcomes for premiere events and 29+ sports to choose from. You can wager on various Esports on this platform, including CS Majors, big DOTA events, League of Legends competitions and more. The operator is transparent regarding security and your data processing which is a major pro.

• Many Esports events
• Fully transparent privacy and security information
• ice of promotions

BetMGM

Bet here

BetMGM - Insurance Promotion

One of the biggest US brands is legal to wager on in Canada as well. AGCO licensed the operator which offers 27 sports and 1000+ outcomes for the top competitions. There are live streams available for In-Play matches. You can claim up to 1500$ back as a Free Bet if your first wager loses. GameSense feature allows for safe gambling and offers information on gambling addiction as well as advice on how to avoid it. There is a dedicated page where all of the safe gambling tools and resources are compiled.

• Up to 1500$ back if the first wager fails
• GameSence safe gambling page
• Live broadcasts

888sport

Bet here

888 Sport - Boosted Odds

This platform is completely legal in Canada and you can wager on 31 sports. While the overall margin is leaning towards high numbers (6+%), there are boosted odds for American sports, which make the prices more valuable for punters. Also, there are free games available such as the prediction competition. The site has a blog and BetFeed with advice on wagering and convenient ways to play.

• Boosted odds for NBA, NHL, MLB and NFL
• Free betting games
• BetFeed and blog with valuable advice

NorthStar

Bet here

Northstar Bets - Lowest Margin

This fully licensed operator offers 35 different sports to bet on. While the outcome selection is not that wide – 600+, the margin for top events is around 3.9% which is lower than most other platforms. You can also claim up to 150$ as a first deposit bonus. For loyal customers, there is a special section with improved prices and many promotions. This site also offers advice on responsible play, ways to indicate a developing addiction and is generally safe to play on.

• Competitive odds
• Many promotions for loyal gamblers
• Insights on responsible gaming

Overview of Legal Gambling in Canada

While sportsbooks are not new for this region, the gambling industry is developing throughout. Since the year 2021 and the C-218 bill passing the pace at which it has evolved here is phenomenal. Let’s look at some of the other ways Canadians can exchange some money for fun.

Lotteries

These are a major part of the history of Canadian gambling. They were on and off with the government trying to assess the risks and advantages of running them. Since 1900, lotteries have been allowed as long as profits were used for charity and to fund start-ups and businesses. In 1968 the process started which later on, in 1969 gave provinces to organise and run them at their own rules and regulations.

The legal age is different from region to region. Manitoba and Alberta allow 18+ players to participate, while British Columbia, Nunavut and Ontario require citizens to be 19+ to be able to gamble.

Racing

With the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway, the sport grew astronomically in popularity. Several hippodromes were built across Canada to meet the demands of the population. Remember that for many years, wagering on horse racing was the only form of gambling allowed in the country.

Casino

It took some time for the government to allow non-profit organisations to run casinos to raise money for charity. The first real, commercial casino opened in 1987. It was called Crystal Casino and is located in Winnipeg.

Canada vs. US Sports Betting

Canada’s taxation system has a specific approach towards gamblers. They are split into two groups – professional punters and non-professional ones. This feature allows those who seek fun and leisure time activities not to pay taxes for participating. In comparison, the US Internal Revenue Service set all gambling winnings as fully taxable. All citizens must report their income on tax returns. The price to pay is 24% annually.

The progressive iGaming system of Ontario has already made Canada a much more stable market for operators. At the end of 2023, only in Ontario, there were 1.6 million active accounts on online betting sites. Over 35.6 million CAD in wagers and that set Ontario to be the 5th biggest jurisdiction in North America when it comes to gambling.

There was a 243% in total wagers made on regulated websites in Ontario, from 4.07 billion CAD to 14 billion CAD. To this day the lotteries secure the highest net profits in Canada – 4.5 billion CAD.

Since 2017, thanks to Canada’s liberal approach to gambling, the local population betted over $17.3 billion annually and ranked 5th after Macau, the USA, the UK and Australia. However, only $500 million of the total amount was legally betted, the rest of it was not. It is expected that 5 years after the legalisation of single-game betting, by 2026, in Canada, the betting turnover will reach $28 billion, i.e. the CAGR should be an astronomical 123%.

In general, the Canadian betting market is significantly smaller, compared to the US one. In the USA, the legal turnover of beats reaches $261 billion, compared to a potential turnover of $28 in Canada.

Canada sports betting FAQ

Is betting legal in Canada?

As of August 2021 – yes. The C-218 bill made single-game wagering completely legal throughout Canadian jurisdictions and let provinces regulate the betting operators.

What sports can I bet on in Canada?

As long as the province you live in allows single-game gambling, there are no restrictions on disciplines to wager on.

What is gambling age in Canada?

There is no unanimous threshold in this regard. In some provinces such as Alberta, Manitoba, Prince Edward Island, Quebec and Saskatchewan it is legal to gamble as soon as you hit 18. Others require you to be 19 years old to participate.

Do I have to report sports betting on taxes?

Depending on whether this is your main income source or not. The tax authority divides players into two categories – professionals and amateurs. The latter are free from taxation on any income generated from gambling activities.

What is illegal gambling in Canada?

Provinces are regulating themselves on what is allowed and what is not. For example, Ontario has a separate iGaming sector and the regulator is heavily involved in creating the region’s gaming structure. However, it is still up to them whether poker, casino, lottery, sports betting and more are legal.