Best Canadian Betting Sites (2021)

Are you looking for the best online sports betting sites that are legal for Canadian residents? You have come to the right place. BettingGuide has partnered with the best legal, safe, and licensed online sportsbooks that accept players from Canada.

There’s no doubt about it - Canadians love their sports. What’s more, they love to bet on sports.  

With great odds and the ability to play from the comfort of home, more and more Canadians are joining online sports betting sites every day. But, with so many betting sites to choose from, it can be hard to know where to sign up.

To help you pick the best Canadian sportsbooks, we’ve reviewed numerous sports betting sites and put together a guide. In this guide, we’ll share our secrets on how to find the best betting sites.  We’ll also explain how you can sign up and start placing bets today. 

How We Choose the Best Sportsbooks in Canada

While we’re happy to find the best betting sites for you, we’re also happy to share our secrets. Finding a good site can be difficult these days. But there are a few important things we recommend you keep in mind.  

Below you will find our list comparing the betting sites which offer the most sports, betting markets, and the highest betting odds while reviewing and ranking each bookie in six key areas to make sure the operator provides a legal, safe, and top-tier betting experience for all Canadian players.

Also, we compare the best betting sites for popular sports below, including the best bookies for hockey, soccer, and horse racing.

Here’s what we look for in top betting sites.

Legal, Licensed & Safe

To guarantee you have the best online betting experience, use only betting sites that are legal and licensed. Many unlicensed and illegal gambling sites exist. Stay away from these. Sticking to legal and licensed sportsbooks will ensure: 

• You are not participating in any illegal activity 
• The betting is fair 
• You avoid being scammed

As Canada is still a grey market, and there are no clear laws for online gambling using offshore betting sites. But, with the lack of regulation and laws, online betting is essentially legal for Canadian residents when they use offshore betting sites that are legal and licensed in those territories.

Offshore betting sites operate in this grey area where there are still no laws against online betting for players from Canada, and, millions of Canadians continue to gamble safely using these sites. We only list legal Canadian sportsbooks, and licensed betting sites that are offshore (not in Canada), that accept deposits in Canadian Dollars.

As the offshore betting sites hold reputable gambling licenses from respected authorities such as the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) and the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), each sportsbook needs to comply with strict safety regulations or risk losing their licenses. On top of this, the best betting sites offer high-end online security which secures communications by encrypting all data to and from the site.

But, you can also choose to gamble on domestic Canadian betting sites that hold valid Canadian gambling licences from respected authorities such as the Kahnawake Gaming Commission.

The Kahnawake Gaming Commission was set up in 1996 and is currently the only commission that issues gaming permits and licences in Canada. At this time, the Kahnawake Gaming Commission oversees 100+ operators in Canada including Canadian online casinos such as Spin Casino or Jackpot City.

Security and trust are two of the most important factors when choosing online sports betting sites. All of the Canadian sportsbooks we recommend are guaranteed to be safe and secure. 

You can also determine whether a site is trusted by researching its industry reputation. Read through our reviews and follow the suggestions of trusted guides like this one. 

When gambling on safe and trusted betting sites, you can rest assured that:

• Your personal information is secure 
• Your financial information is protected 

Sign Up Offers

All of the best Canadian betting sites offer high-value new customer sign up offers to attract new players. It is important to take full advantage of these signup offers, as you can only claim them once (on each bookie), and they almost always offer more value than any other promotion available.

Betting sites offer these promotions and bonuses to compete with one another and as a first time player in Canada, you can expect to receive some sort of bonus from the best sportsbooks. The best Canadian betting sites will also offer returning players promotions and bonuses to stick around. 

Keep an eye out for these common bonuses:

• Sign Up Bonus - many sportsbooks offer this bonus for new players. The site will match your first deposit, or give you a percentage of your deposit. For example, many sites will offer a 100% deposit bonus. Some may even offer up to 500%, to a certain amount. 
• Free Bets - free bets are also common. Players can wager with these free bet credits and, while you can’t withdraw the bet credit itself, any winnings are fair game. 
• Reload Bonus - to keep players coming back, some of the best Canadian sportsbooks offer to reload bonuses. This bonus gives you free credits when you reload your account with more funds. 
• Boosted Odds - no need to be a first time player to take advantage of this benefit. Many sportsbooks will offer members boosted odds for increased payouts and improved chances of winning.
• Another risk-free option is by using no deposit bonuses when joining a new sports bookmaker. These deals do exactly as they say in the name, offering a bonus before you make a deposit.

In addition to these bonuses, the best betting sites offer contests and loyalty programs. The best benefits include:

• Weekly contests 
• Rewards programs that offer exciting prizes like vacations and vehicles 

Ultimately, you’ll want to pick a site that offers promos and bonuses that are most attractive and exciting to you.

Some players even sign up to almost every legal sportsbook available to take advantage of these fantastic free bet offers. But, not all signup bonuses offer good value, and it is important to learn how to spot the best and avoid the worst.

Before you apply for a bonus, promotion, contest or rewards program, read the terms and conditions. There may be restrictions on certain bonuses and promotions and reading the fine print will guarantee the option is right for you.

Firstly, look at the wagering requirements on the bonus, to see how much you need to wager the amount to unlock the funds for withdrawal. The best bonuses come with no wagering requirements, but some, require you to wager the bonus 10x the amount, or even more on casino bonuses.

Secondly, check to see what restrictions there are on the bonus, whether you need to deposit using a certain payment method, or if the bonus can only be used on a certain sport, market, etc.

Lastly, it is important to check if you need to enter a bonus code, and what the minimum deposit and bet amount are to qualify for the offer. Not all bonuses have these conditions, but it is crucial to check so you do not miss out on claiming the offer.

Wide Range of Payment Methods

After making sure the betting site is legal, licensed, and safe, we check to see which payment methods are accepted to be sure residents from Canada can deposit and withdraw money.

There’s nothing more frustrating than signing up for a service, only to find that adding and withdrawing funds is difficult and tedious.  

When looking for the best online sports betting sites, check to make sure their payment options are simple to add and quick to use.

Look for: 

• Various payment and withdrawal methods 
• Options that will provide the fastest payout speed 
• Any additional fees associated with withdrawals 

Make sure the site you choose has an option that works for you. Most importantly, make sure the options are convenient for Canadians. 

We also check to see if the Canadian betting sites charge any fees for deposits or withdrawals, and the average time it takes to process the payments. You will find this information in our payments table if you head to our individual operator's reviews.

All of the betting sites in our list accept a wide number of Canadian payment methods including:

• Interac e-Transfer
• PayPal
• iDebit
• Trustly
• INSTADEBIT

Design, Style and Usability

One of the most important factors of a good betting site is its user interface. The best betting sites in Canada are easy to use. From loading funds to withdrawing winnings to placing bets, everything should be simple and intuitive.  

Don’t get frustrated by a bad user interface - stick with our top recommended online sports betting sites for a care-free betting experience.

Also, when you need to place a bet in a hurry, the speed of your chosen Canadian betting site is key as well. This is why we run speed tests in all of the bookmaker reviews that we make available.

On BettingGuide.com, we regularly test each betting site in Canada and the betting apps and give an honest and in-depth look into each site.

How we test:

• We join each Canadian betting site and undergo the process for verifying each account, depositing, betting and withdrawing money
• We place several sports bets and attempt to use features such as live streaming, cash out, etc
• Check and update our reviews every 6-12 months.

Sports & Betting Markets Available

When it comes to online gambling, it’s nice to have options. Look for Canadian betting sites that offer a wide variety of sports and betting options. 

To be on our list of the best Canadian betting sites, we check to see that the bookies offer a wide range of sports & betting markets. We also check for other important features such as whether the bookie offers free live streaming and a cash-out feature.

Whatever your favourite sport is, you’ll be able to find a site where you can bet on it. Let’s be honest, if you can bet on an upcoming election, there’s no reason you shouldn’t be able to place a bet on your favourite CFL team. 

The best Canadian sportsbooks in our list offer:

• NHL betting 
• MLB betting 
• NBA betting
• NFL betting 
• MLS betting 
• UFC betting

The best sports betting sites listed above are bound to offer your sport of choice. 

Currently, bet365 Canada is our number one pick for online sports betting, with 30+ sports, free live streams, full and partial cashouts, high betting odds, and hundreds of betting markets including a bet builder feature which allows you to create custom bets.

High Betting Odds

Now we know how many sports and betting markets are available, which betting sites offer the highest betting odds on average? Well, you can compare the betting margins for each bookie below, for both live and pre-match markets on hockey, soccer, and horse racing bets.

If you did not know, the betting margin is essentially how much a bookie "charges" you to place a bet. Simply put, the lower the betting margin, the higher the odds.

We recommend playing on the betting sites with the highest odds. This can make a huge difference in your outcomes. Not only will better betting odds result in bigger wins but they can also help you save money.

For example: 

You want to put $100 on your favourite NHL team. 
You see Site #1 has your team at 2.4. 
You see Site #2 has the odds for your team at 2.6. 

You’ll want to go with the better odds. But why? 

If you bet $100 on your team on Site #1 and they win you’ll get $240 - $140 in winnings and your initial $100 back. 

If instead you place your bet on Site #2 and win, you’ll get $260 back - a $160 win plus your original bet of $100.

Best Betting Margins in Canada

Below are the results of our independent betting margins tests. But, we only test a small sample of events and markets to give you an idea of how much each sportsbook "charges" you to place a bet, and we recommend regularly testing margins yourself to ensure you are getting the best odds possible.

1. Fansbet sports margin – 3.62%
2. Mr.Play sports margin – 4.75%
3. Spin Sports margin – 4.92%
4. Betway sports margin – 5.16%
5. bet365 sports margin – 5.68%
6. Unibet sports margin – 5.98%
7. 888Sport sports margin – 6.13%
8. 22Bet sports margin – 6.63%
9. LeoVegas sports margin – 6.75%
10. Sports Interaction sports margin – 7.64%

Mobile Betting

Want to place a bet while you’re on the go? More and more Canadians are using their mobile phones to surf the web and gamble online. Therefore, the best Canadian sportsbooks offer mobile betting apps and mobile-friendly sites so that you don’t miss a beat.  

Make sure the betting sites you choose offer the option for you to move to mobile. These sites should be just as easy to use from your phone or tablet as from your laptop or desktop.  

The best sports betting sites will offer a great experience from any mobile operating system including:

• iOS (iPhone) 
• Android 
• Microsoft Windows, etc. 

The mobile betting experience is essential as the majority of players now gamble on a phone or tablet instead of a desktop or laptop. We test the mobile betting apps, and mobile optimised betting websites to see which bookies offer the best mobile betting experience.

Compare which betting sites offer betting apps on Android and iOS below, and the results of our tests on our best betting apps in Canada page.

Customer Support

When it comes to technology, top-notch customer service is key for a great experience. The last thing you want is to be stuck on a loading page as bets are closing with no one to help solve the problem. 

Look for sites that offer fast and effective customer service. Customer support should be easy to reach at any time. 

The best betting sites will offer support via: 

• Email 
• Phone 
• Live online chat
• Social media support

This is certainly not the case across all betting sites, but the top ten in our list all offer a top-tier, 24/7 customer support with several contact methods.

Real Player Reviews

Lastly, we encourage our users to leave real reviews of their experiences, both good and bad, to help our users decide if the betting site is right for them. Of course, it is quite common to see a large number of negative reviews, even on the most reputable betting sites in the industry, as is the nature of gambling.

But, we will move betting sites to a "One to Avoid" section of the betting site accumulates too many worrying negative reviews such as locking the account, refusing to pay, scamming players, or anything else concerning.

Unique Features

Keep an eye out for new and innovative features on sports betting sites. Unique user interface designs and betting options can make your experience more fun. As well, if you are a beginner, some sites will offer unique features to help you learn the ropes.

Examples of unique betting options and features include: 

• Futures bets - betting on championship titles and player awards 
• Unique prop bets - wagering on team stats, half-time performances, fan behaviour 
• Sports data 
• Ability to cash out bets early 
• Odd converters 
• Parlay calculators 

The best betting sites in our list offer the most up-to-date features and fun, unique options.

Live Sports Streams and Betting 

If you enjoy the excitement of placing bets as you watch a game or match unfold, look for a site with live betting options. 

When selecting the best sports betting sites, we always look for sites that offer live streams and live betting. This is the most fun and exciting way to get in on the action. 

bet365, Unibet, Betway and 888Sport offer a wide variety of live streams across a number of different sports if you have a bet on the match or money in your account.

Languages and Currencies 

Canada prides itself on being a multi-cultural country. Therefore, the best Canadian sportsbooks will offer services in various languages, including English and French. 

Above all, you’ll want to make sure that the online sports betting sites you choose accept Canadian dollars. Every single gambling site on BettingGuide.com accepts Canadian dollars and offers a wide range of local and international payment methods for players from Canada.

Finding the best Canadian sportsbooks is the hard part (and it’s really not that hard with the help of our top trusted sites listed above). When it comes to signing up for a sportsbook in Canada the process is as easy as 1-2-3.  

After you’ve selected the site you’d like to use, head to their sign up page. Then simply: 

1. Provide your account details on the registration form.

• Country of residence 
• Province or territory 
• Name 
• Birthdate 
• Email address 
• Phone number 
• Home address 
• Username and password 
• Time zone, etc. 

Make sure to select CAD as your currency, if the option is provided. 

Before completing this signup, you’ll need to accept and agree to the site’s terms and conditions. We always recommend reading through the details to make sure you know exactly what to expect. 

1. Activate your account. 

An account activation code will come through to your email or as a text message. Enter this code to confirm your contact details and complete your activation.

1. Verify your identity. 

Although you may be able to start betting right away, you’ll need to verify your identity before you can withdraw money from your account. This is how the betting site confirms your identity and that you’re old enough to be gambling online. Details about how to verify your identity can be found below. 

After creating and activating your account, you will be able to load funds into it. Head over to the Cashier page to make a deposit and start playing. 

Please note: to withdraw funds, including any winnings, you will need to make sure that you have successfully verified your identity. 

How to Verify Your Identity on Canadian Betting Sites 

To verify your identity with Canadian sportsbooks, you’ll need to provide a few documents that confirm you are who you say you are. 

Typically, betting sites will ask for scans of: 

• Valid government photo ID (e.g. passport, driver’s licence, health care card) 
• Images of your credit card (if this is your selected payment method) 
• Proof of residence (utility bill, bank statement, or anything else that can confirm your address)

Although the process may be a little tedious, this is the sign of a good sportsbook. 

Verifying these aspects of a player’s identity helps to make sure the site is safe and that everyone meets age requirements. It also helps the site prevent illegal activity from occurring and ensures they are following each province and territory’s gambling requirements.

How to Deposit and Withdraw Money on Canadian Sports Betting Sites 

Depositing and withdrawing money on Canadian betting sites is simple.  

Just log in to your account, navigate to the deposit/withdrawal page and add your method of choice. 

 Various methods can be used to deposit and withdraw funds including: 

• Visa 
• MasterCard 
• American Express 
• Canadian debit cards 
• e-transfer 
• PayPal 
• Bitcoin 
• Wire transfers 
• Cheque by mail, etc. 

In most cases, the same option you’ve used to deposit funds can be used to collect money. In fact, you may be required to use the same method to withdraw that you used to deposit funds.  

Most commonly, Canadians use credit and debit cards to deposit and withdraw money. When withdrawing funds, these options typically take 1-5 business days to be processed. When available, eWallets like PayPal, are the fastest option.