Top Canadian Esports Betting Sites
- Good welcome bonus with clear and affordable conditions.
- 50+ Sports categories available.
- Reliable bookmaker licenced by MGA.
- 30+ Sports
- Highest Betting Odds in our Tests
- Live Streaming
- Fantastic Betting Apps on iOS and Android
- High Betting Odds
- Fast Withdrawals
How Esports Betting Works
Esports has grown into a billion-dollar industry in recent years, above all tailoring to a younger generation. It might be hard to grasp at times, but the betting scene has certainly caught up with the developments. Today, various options are offered for Esports betting in Canada, from different games to new and exciting markets for each of these.
So, how does it work? It depends on the game, but common markets include game winner, map winner, tournament winner, handicap and so on. In other words, betting on Esports is actually very similar to betting on sports. Of course, it helps if you know more about the game in question so this naturally adds another layer of difficulty, but the betting itself is very easy to grasp.
Key Information About the Best Esports Betting Sites
| 💻 Operator |  |  |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🎮 Games Available | 12 | 12 | 6 | 6 | 3 |
| 🔢 Markets Offered | Up to 100 | Up to 60 | Up to 20 | Up to 10 | Up to 40 |
| 🏦 Betting Margins | 7.89% | 7.2% | 8.91% | 6.32% | 7.2% |
| 👉 Visit Site | Bet on Esports | Bet on Esports | Bet on Esports | Bet on Esports | Bet on Esports |
Best Esports Betting Sites in Canada - Our Top 5 List
It goes without that a top list of any kind is usually subjective, as is the case here, but we have made an effort to focus on factors that truly matter for Esports bettors. For example, how many games are offered on the betting site? Is there live streaming of the action? These are just two examples of the objective data points that we used in our testing of the best Esports betting sites.
Below, our experts delve deeper into these data points and offer their views on the sites in question, sharing some pros and cons. This will hopefully guide you towards a better decision about your new Esports betting home. Rest assured, there are some good options for Canadians on this front.
#1 Best Esports Betting Site: Betway
Betway is widely regarded as the best betting site for Esports all over the world and this is indeed the case in Canada as well. This is something we have covered in our review of the site as well, but let's take a look at what makes the bookie so good for Esports. Right off the bat, Esports bettors can get up to a $200 free bet based on the first deposit and there is also a weekly free bet of $10 up for grabs.
This immediately sets Betway apart, but the good news doesn't end there, as those who sign up will find that all of the popular Esports are available in the sportsbook. From CS2 to League of Legends, Betway has you covered and the depth of markets is also very impressive, with usually up to 100 markets per game.
On a negative note, we couldn't find any option to stream the Esports action during our tests and this is a bit of a bummer, though all events can be accessed on Twitch anyway. Overall, therefore, Betway is a tremendous choice for Canadian bettors who are looking to place some Esports. In fact, it is way ahead of the other sites on this list.
Pros
- Esports Games: 12
- Esports Market Depth: Up to 100
- Esports-dedicated welcome offer: Yes
- Esports Betting Margins: 7.89%
Cons
- Esports Live Streaming: No
#2 Best Esports Betting Site: Parimatch
Parimatch is a well-known bookmaker all over the world and it has become a solid choice for Canadian bettors as well. Esports has not always been the site's biggest focus, but taking a look at the current Esports offering in Canada, we were very impressed. The dedicated section is very easy to navigate as the top events are shown immediately, which is a nice plus.
As for the actual coverage, bettors who sign up on the site can expect around 30 markets or so pre-game, but this tends to increase as soon as the event gets underway. Anything from CS2, League of Legends and Valorant is available to bet on and there is also a section on the site for outright bets, which is something that could come in handy.
To continue with the praise, Parimatch also offers live streaming for most events and this makes the betting experience very good, almost enough to challenge Betway for the first spot. Overall, Parimatch is a great choice for Esports betting, especially considering that the bookie is great for other sports too.
Pros
- Esports Games: 12
- Esports Market Depth: Up to 60
- Esports Live Streaming: Yes
- Esports Betting Margins: 7.2%
#3 Best Esports Betting Site: BetVictor
BetVictor only launched in Canada in 2023 but has already become a strong brand on the market, which isn't exactly surprising given that it's one of the best bookmakers in the UK. So how about Canada, then? Does it differ at all? As far as we can tell, the sportsbook is just as strong in Canada as in other parts of the world.
This means that those who sign up will be able to find all of the popular games, with a total tally of 6 Esports games, while the market depth is nothing special. At least pre-game, there are only about 20 different markets but on the other hand, this is still fairly decent for Esports. It's just that the top two sites here are so good.
Live streaming is not offered on the site, which is something to take into consideration, but at least the sportsbook as a whole is good. If you already have an account with BetVictor, and want to place the occasional bet on Esports, then it could be the right choice for you. In order to have more options, though, opt for Parimatch or Betway.
Pros
- Esports Games: 6
- Esports Market Depth: Up to 20
Cons
- Esports Live Streaming: No
- Esports Betting Margins: 8.91%
#4 Best Esports Betting Site: LeoVegas
LeoVegas is mostly known for the casino section of the site, so we wouldn't be surprised if you didn't know that there even was a sportsbook on there. There is, though, and it is actually an okay one under the circumstances. It's certainly not the best for Esports but it could be worth considering if you don't like the aforementioned bookies.
Taking a look at the Esports section, we found that the popular games are covered with six of them in total, just like BetVictor. The market depth is very poor compared to the others, though, with a mere 10 of them available to bet on (at least pre-game). This is something that LeoVegas will have to improve.
Live streaming is not offered either but as is the case with Esports, this is not a huge deal-breaker. On the plus side, LeoVegas has the best betting margins of the bunch with an average of 6.32%. The difference is not huge with the others, or at least not the best sites on this list, but it will make a difference in the long run.
Pros
- Esports Games: 6
- Esports Betting Margins: 6.32%
Cons
- Esports Market Depth: Up to 10
- Esports Live Streaming: No
#5 Best Esports Betting Site: Novibet
Finally, at the bottom, we find Novibet. The placement is not to suggest that Novibet is a dreadful bookie for Esports betting, after all it is No.5 in the whole of Canada. However, there are certain aspects (or mainly one, which we will get to) which need to be improved in order for Novibet to change the standings.
As opposed to the rest of the sites on this list, we only found three different Esports games to bet on. They are the most popular in fairness, namely, CS2, Dota 2 and League of Legends, but it would have been nice to see more of them. Novibet does excel on the depth front, however, with up to 40 markets offered per game.
Live streaming is also offered, making for a nice Esports betting experience, while the betting margins are decent too. Then again, we really would have liked to see more Esports games here. There is nothing wrong with focusing on what you do well, but bookies these days need to stay on top of the game a lot more.
Pros
- Esports Market Depth: Up to 40
- Esports Live Streaming: Yes
- Esports Betting Margins: 7.2%
Cons
- Esports Games: 3
- Esports Live Streaming: No
How We Determined the Best Esports Betting Sites
We have already outlined the determining factors in our top 5 list above, but below we will delve deeper into these and why they matter so much for Esports betting. This also helped our experts the list as objective as possible, always relying on the data when making their assessment on which betting site really is the best on this front.
If you are interested, you can also take a look at our page for how we rank betting sites in Canada, which will help explain our motivations for the Esports rankings as well.
Licensed and Legal
There are many benefits to playing at a licensed casino and sportsbook. Licensing holds online betting sites to a certain standard. It also ensures they make decisions that are in the best interest of their customers.
Licensing also guarantees that an online sportsbook is legal to play at. With so many online casinos and sportsbooks saturating the online market, looking for licensed businesses can help weed out the bad ones.
Several reputable licensing bodies operate in the online betting space. Here are some of the top licensers to look for:
- Kahnawake Gaming Commission
- Malta Gaming Authority
- Gibraltar Gaming and Betting Association
- Great Britain Gambling Commission
- Government of Curacao
Range of Esports and Depth of Esports
Of course, anyone who signs up on a sportsbook in Canada will want to know that the coverage is good, otherwise you risk not being able to place the bets you want. This is something that we focused a lot on in our verdict of the top five Esports betting sites in the country. And not just how many games are available, but also how the market depth looks for each of these.
Our No.1 in the list above, namely Betway, can offer as many as 100 markets for a single game. This is also one of the main reasons why it is the best bookie for betting on Esports. More options are always good for punters and increases the chances of finding a betting opportunity with good value.
Esports Bonuses and Promotions
Do you love bonuses and promotions? We do! That’s why we look for esports betting sites that offer the best perks. There is a range of different esports betting promotions you might come across. Some of the most common include Match bonuses and Matched bets.
With match bonuses, the casino or sportsbook will match a percentage of your deposit. For example, you might find a 100% match bonus on your first deposit up to $100. This means if you deposit $100 you will get a bonus of $100 cash. This cash can then be used to place wagers.
Matched bets provide players with double the bet for the same price. This means that if you make a $5 bet you’ll receive an additional $5 bet for free.
With all bonuses and promotions, it’s important to look at the terms and conditions. For instance, there are often wagering requirements associated with bonuses and free cash. An example of this is 50x wagering. This means that any bonus money will need to be played through 50 times before it can be withdrawn from your account.
Esports Betting Margins
A betting margin (also referred to as “juice”) is the commission that esports betting sites and other sportsbooks take from each losing bet. In other words, it’s the site's profit margin.
You can calculate betting margins to make sure you are getting the best deal on a bet. Most margins are between 4% and 6%. Remember, you only have to pay for the juice if you lose your bet. Let’s take a look at an example to demonstrate how to calculate betting margins. Please note - this example uses the American betting odds format.
- Team A +1.5 (-110)
- Team B -1.5 (+110)
In this example, the -110 odds mean that you’re betting $110 to win $100. Therefore, if you win the bet you’ll get $210 ($110 [original bet] + $100 [winnings]). However, if you lose, you’ll have to pay the $100 as well as the $10 juice.
If you divide the juice ($10) by the total possible winning amount ($210) you’ll get the betting margin (4.76%). i.e. 10 / 210 = 0.0476. This strategy of calculating the betting margin can help you make the most of your money. The lower the margin, the better!
Popular Esports Betting Markets
There are several types of bets you can place on esports betting sites. The most common esports betting options are:
Skins Betting: This type of betting involves the use of in-game objects as a form of currency. Bettors wager on the outcome of a game using skins as money. What are skins? Skins are graphics that change the appearance of an item or character in a video game. There are many reasons skins are significant in video games. Skins can be traded and bought to move up in rank, gain new skills or abilities and more.
Fantasy Betting: This requires bettors to choose a team of players. Once your team has been chosen, you are hoping that your selections outperform other bettors' choices. With fantasy betting, rather than betting against a sportsbook, you’re betting against other players. Fantasy betting is a very interactive form of betting and is available on many esports betting sites in Canada.
Map Winner: A map winner bet is a very common type of bet in CS esports games. With map winner bets you can bet on who will win each round, how many rounds a certain team will win and a certain map you think a team will win When making a map winner bet, it’s important to note how many maps or rounds the game will have. Researching each map and the strengths of various teams can also help you make a more informed wager.
First Blood: First-blood bets require gamblers to predict which team will get the first kill in a game. This type of bet is common in First-Person Shooter and Multiplayer Online Battle Arena games.
Winning Team: These types of bets are simply a prediction of which team will win a game or match. This type of bet is available for the following game types: Sports Simulators, Multiplayer Online Battle Arena and First-Person Shooter.
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Thomas is responsible for all content on BettingGuide Canada. With his extensive knowledge of the gambling industry and college degree in law, he knows what you should look out for when choosing the best casino or sportsbook.
