Canadian sports fans can breathe a sigh of relief thanks to Bill C-218, which was passed in August 2021. The additional legislation to the Criminal Code decriminalizes single-event sports betting, marking a new era for sports betting fans in the region. So if you’d like to wager on a single event you’re following, you can. The single-game wager options currently available to Canadian sports fans include:
- In-game wagers on leading events
- Wagers on various fantasy sports
- eSports wagers
- Wagers on novelty events
Reasons for the Shift in Gambling Laws
As witnessed with most North American states over the past few years, legalizing sports betting options has its benefits. So as US legislators worked on ways to accommodate their sports fans’ needs, they also pushed Canadian legislators to do the same. Thus, helping them take steps towards joining the billion-dollar iGaming industry.
For starters, legalizing online sports gambling means lawmakers in the region can set parameters to guarantee their residents’ safety while they’re on betting sites in Canada. These include measures like vetting possible operators’ services and regulating the market’s various offerings. In turn, bettors don’t need to rely on unverified sites to enjoy themselves. So, the government gets to keep all the revenue generated from its residents’ gambling activities.
The revenue collected can then go towards various developmental projects to improve the same residents’ lives. So it’s a win-win for everyone involved. Regulating the market also ensures the adherence to responsible gambling measures to reduce the risks associated with online gambling. Operators would follow the rules to stay in business, while sports fans will do what’s necessary to continue enjoying unrestricted sports gambling activities.
Canadian Regulations and Legal Operators by Province
Before Bill C-218 got passed, online bettors in Canada could only make parlay bets. These are a group of bets that rely on each other’s outcome to reward payouts. It makes it tricky to wager, especially if you only know about one of the events available to bet on.
To make a parlay wager, you need to bet on a minimum of two games on one slip. If your predictions for the two events are correct, then you win the wager. But if one loses and the other is successful, you lose the entire bet. But with the passing of Bill C-218, you only need to bet on the events you’d like to, even if it’s just one game per slip.
The types of sports wagers available and where you can make them in Canada depends on where you reside. Canada has ten provinces and three territories, each deciding what they’ll offer their sports betting fans. Here is a breakdown of what you can expect from the various locations in 2022.
British Columbia
BC has been offering retail and online sports betting options for years. But it was one of the first provinces to take action after the passing of Bill C-218 in 2021. So its residents can now enjoy single-game wagers on their favorite games online. You need to have reached a minimum of 19 years to access online gambling options.
PlayNow is the legally licensed platform offering these options. It’s run by the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC). Through this site, you can also make mobile bets through your smartphone or tablet. But for the mobile version to work, you must have geolocation apps installed to verify where you’re accessing the site from.
Manitoba
Like British Columbia, Manitoba has been offering retail and online gambling for years. It’s currently able to offer single-game bets through PlayNow under the management of the Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries Corporation (MBLL).
Residents of this province can also access sports betting options offered by offshore operators. That means you have the option to also gamble on mobile.
Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and New Brunswick
Also known as the Atlantic Provinces, these four locations all offer retail and online sports gambling activities to their residents. While Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, and New Brunswick started offering online variations in 2021, Nova Scotia joined the fold in February 2022.
All four destinations have their online activities managed by the Atlantic Lottery Corporation (ALC). These can be accessed on PRO•LINE Stadium, the only sportsbook available locally to residents in the four regions.
Saskatchewan
Sports betting in this province is overseen by the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SIGA). Residents can make in-person bets on Sport Select through participating retailers found at gas stations and convenience stores. But soon, online gambling options could become a reality. In June 2022, the SIGA signed an agreement with the BCLC to make PlayNow a legal online platform for its residents.
But while residents wait for this to become a reality, they can access offshore betting sites accepting Canadian bettors.
Ontario
Ontario makes up the country’s largest sports betting market. Residents can make their sports wagers at retail and online bookmakers through platforms like PRO•LINE Stadium which is managed by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp.
Besides that, bettors in this state can also make wagers on platforms like FanDuel, DraftKings, theScore Bet, BetRivers, and PointsBet Canada. These are among the 25 sportsbooks (40 operators) licensed by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). So, all offerings on these sites are legal for Ontario residents.
Quebec
Quebec residents can enjoy online sports betting options through Mise-o-jeu+, which allows desktop and mobile gambling through its app. For in-person wagers, there’s Mise-o-jeu. Both these gambling options are managed by Loto-Quebec. Through them, you can also enjoy live betting on leading events, a rare offering in Canada.
Residents are hopeful that since the region has several casino gambling halls, it’ll soon add sports betting halls as well for its residents.
Alberta, Saskatchewan, Northwest Territories, Manitoba, Yukon, and the Nunavut
These locations are referred to as the Prairie Provinces. Bettors in each of these areas have been able to access a vast gambling selection on PlayAlberta.ca since September 2021. The platform is licensed by the Alberta Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis (AGLC).
For retail options, Prairie Province residents turn to Sport Select. This gambling option is run by the Western Canada Lottery Corporation (WCLC). There are also talks to add PointsBet Canada as one of the sportsbooks residents can access for the online betting options.
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