The federal ban on single-game sports betting in Canada was officially lifted on Aug. 27, 2021.
Bill C-218, the Safe and Regulated Sports Betting Act, received royal assent on June 29, 2021, and came into effect less than two months later. Now, Canadians coast-to-coast await the responses of their respective provinces and territories, as each jurisdiction will decide when and how they offer legal single-event wagering.
Our interactive map shows where each Canadian province and territory stands on its road to legalizing single-game online sports betting. Keep in mind that many licensed offshore websites offer legal alternatives, and this graphic represents provincially regulated options only.
Bookmark this page to stay updated with all of the latest single-game sports betting news in your province or territory.
Yes, Canadians have enjoyed legal sports betting since 1985, but the addition of single-game betting is about to take sports wagering to an unprecedented level in the Great White North. Until now, parlay bets — two or more bets rolled into one — and pari-mutuel gambling have been the only types of sports betting permitted in the country. What’s more, these bets are only available through each province’s lottery system. This situation has prompted Canadians to seek more favourable online options and inject an estimated $14 billion annually into offshore gambling websites.
The loss of sports betting revenue has been the primary driving force behind the legalization of single-game wagering in Canada. The successful implementation of legalized sports betting south of the border has also caused many naysayers, including several professional sports leagues, to change their tune.
It remains unclear how most Canadian provinces will regulate this new legal form of sports betting. Still, at the very least, bettors will no longer be tied to needlessly complicated parlay bets. The onus will now be on each province to make regulated sports betting appealing enough to prevent local bettors from flocking to offshore websites.
Canada’s single-game sports betting law came into effect on Aug. 27, 2021. Justice Minister David Lametti announced the initiative on Aug. 12, 2021, in Niagara Falls, Ontario.
While some provinces have made online single-game betting available immediately, expect a slower rollout for retail sportsbooks. Several provinces may decide to simply add single-game betting to their existing platforms and forego an extreme overhaul of their sports bet offerings.
Seven provinces — British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, and Quebec — offered single-game sports betting right out of the gate, but other Canadian jurisdictions will take their time before introducing new, regulated options.
Bill C-218 allows each province to dictate how and when they regulate sports betting. Provincial governments have to determine who is authorized to offer sports betting, the sports eligible for wagering, and the types of bets that are permitted.
As mentioned, this will vary from province to province. For example, Ontario’s thirst for an open market will lead to big industry players putting their stamp on their sports betting market. Conversely, provinces with smaller populations may limit bettors to their respective lottery offerings. For this reason, offshore sportsbooks may very well continue to account for much of the sports gambling revenue in the country.
Here’s the latest on legal sports betting in each Canadian province and territory, starting with the provinces that offer (or will soon offer) single-game wagering:
Legal: Alberta | British Columbia | Manitoba | New Brunswick | Newfoundland and Labrador | Ontario | Prince Edward Island | Quebec
No single-game betting: Northwest Territories | Nova Scotia | Nunavut | Saskatchewan | Yukon
Status: Legal
Single-game sports betting is now legal in Alberta. Provincially regulated online betting arrived on Sept. 1, 2021, via PlayAlberta.ca, an online gambling website regulated by Alberta Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis (AGLC). According to the Sport Select website, single-event wagering will soon be available at WCLC retail locations as well.
Alberta sports bettors have both online and offline options available to meet their legal gambling needs. Play Alberta is the sole online platform, while Sport Select — a Western Canada Lottery Corporation (WCLC) product — is the retail alternative. Sport Select offers parlays, point spreads, pools, and prop bets.
With no retail sportsbooks in the province, bets must be placed at a participating convenience store or gas station. In the future, retail locations could make their way into any of Alberta’s more than two dozen casinos. If Albertans choose to go the offshore route, there are plenty of reputable sportsbooks to choose from.
Status: Legal
Canada’s westernmost province launched single-game sports betting on PlayNow.com on Aug. 27, 2021.
British Columbia offers legal sports betting in person and online. In fact, B.C. operates Canada’s lone retail sportsbook — PlayNow Sportsbook at Match Eatery & Public House in New Westminster’s Starlight Casino.
The Pacific Province was well-positioned to offer single-game bets via the British Columbia Lottery Corporation’s PlayNow.com — Canada’s largest online sportsbook. In February 2021, the BCLC estimated the province could generate an additional $125-$175 million in sports betting revenue with the legalization of single-event betting.
On Aug. 3, 2021, it was announced that the BCLC had chosen Genius Sports Limited as its official data provider in preparation for Canada’s new-look betting landscape.
Although B.C. now offers single-game sports betting, offshore sportsbooks account for much of the sports betting action on the west coast.
Status: Legal
Single-game bets are now available in Manitoba. The Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries Corporation (MBLL) has permitted bettors to place wagers on the outcome of a single event on PlayNow.com since Aug. 27, 2021.
Like British Columbians, Manitobans benefit from single-game legal online sports betting with PlayNow.com. Currently, it’s the only provincially regulated online option for sports gamblers. There are no retail sportsbooks in Manitoba, but bettors can place in-person parlay wagers with Sport Select at select retailers. Both online and in-person gambling is regulated by the Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries Corporation (MBLL) in “Friendly Manitoba”.
In addition to PlayNow, Manitoba sports bettors are free to try their luck with numerous legal offshore sports betting websites. These sites offer a superior experience for new and seasoned bettors via better bonus offers, odds, and betting opportunities.
Status: Legal
The Atlantic Lottery Corporation (ALC) legalized single-game sports betting in New Brunswick on Aug. 27, 2021.
The Atlantic Lottery Corporation (ALC) regulates all gambling in New Brunswick, and the lone legal sports betting option is Pro•Line. Moneyline, Over/Under, point spreads, and more can be placed at an ALC retailer, and online bets can be confirmed on the Pro•Line Stadium website.
As the sports betting landscape continues to change in NB, it’s possible one of the province’s two casinos could house a retail sportsbook. At the very least, New Brunswick residents can now wager on single events with Pro•Line.
Legal offshore sports gambling websites offer the best bang for a New Brunswicker’s buck, however. With sharp odds, promotions, and betting options, these sportsbooks outperform provincially regulated offerings.
Status: Legal
The Atlantic Lottery Corporation (ALC) legalized single-game sports betting in Newfoundland and Labrador on Aug. 27, 2021.
Like New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador are serviced by the Atlantic Lottery when it comes to legal sports wagering. Pro•Line is available both online and offline on The Rock and the heart of the Big Land.
Newfoundlanders and Labradorians can also place legal sports bets with offshore sportsbooks. These websites offer much better odds and bet types with fewer betting limitations than Pro•Line.
Status: Legal
The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. began offering legal online single-game betting via a brand new online product — PROLINE+ — on Aug. 27, 2021. Ontario bettors can also make in-person wagers with Pro•Line.
Canada’s most populous province has its sights set on an open and competitive iGaming market that is set to launch in December 2021. Industry titans DraftKings and FanDuel are likely to enter the fray. Australia’s PointsBet has publicly announced its intentions to be an early entrant in the Ontario market as well. Toronto-based Score Media and Gaming Inc. has already stated that its U.S.-facing app, theScore Bet, is coming soon to Ontario. The top offshore sportsbooks remain prevalent in the province. Many of these websites will look to join Ontario's regulated market In December 2021.
Ontario has been aggressive on the single-game betting front, already establishing iGaming Ontario — a subsidiary of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) — to manage all online gambling through third-party operators. These operators can begin preparing applications to register with the AGCO on Sep. 13, 2021.
Status: Legal
The Atlantic Lottery Corporation (ALC) legalized single-game sports betting in P.E.I. on Aug. 27, 2021.
Sports betting in Prince Edward Island is regulated by the Atlantic Lottery Corporation (ALC). P.E.I. residents can place wagers online with Pro•Line Stadium, or in-person at an ALC retail location.
P.E.I.’s two casinos — Red Shores Charlottetown and Red Shores Summerside — could present themselves as prime locations for future retail sportsbooks, but no such facilities are operating on the Island yet.
Beyond Pro•Line, P.E.I. sports bettors are limited to offshore gambling websites. These sportsbooks are licensed to operate in other jurisdictions, and therefore able to operate in Canada as well.
Status: Legal
Sports bettors in Quebec have been able to place single-game bets online with Mise-o-jeu+ and at retail locations with Mise-o-jeu, Loto-Quebec’s sports wagering platform, since Aug. 27, 2021.
Quebec allows both online and in-person single-game betting with Mise-o-jeu. Online bets can be placed via the Mise-o-jeu website or app, while physical bets can be placed at select locations throughout the province. Mise-o-jeu also features live-betting, a rarity for Canadian sportsbooks. Notably, there are no retail sportsbooks in Quebec. However, the province has a handful of casinos — including Montreal's appropriately named Casino de Montréal — that could offer sports betting in the future.
Although single-game sports betting is live in La belle province, offshore sportsbooks will continue to account for much of the betting action.
Status: No single-game betting
The Northwest Territories offer legalized sports betting via the same Sport Select platform found in Alberta, Manitoba, Nunavut, Saskatchewan, and Yukon. Northwesters can place bets at participating retail outlets like gas stations and convenience stores, but Sports Select does not allow online wagering.
Unsurprisingly, there are no retail sportsbooks located in the NWT. As an alternative, sports bettors in the north can place wagers with legal offshore sportsbooks. These websites offer a less restrictive betting experience, with the ability to place more bets at more reasonable price points.
NWT & Nunavut Lotteries are now permitted to offer single-game betting via Sport Select, though there hasn't been any movement on that front thus far.
Status: No single-game betting
The Atlantic Lottery Corporation (ALC) regulates and provides sports betting services to Nova Scotians. Legal bets can be placed in Nova Scotia online with Pro•Line Stadium or in-person at an ALC retailer — typically a convenience store, grocery store, or gas station.
A more favourable legal online sports betting alternative for Nova Scotians is to wager with one of many legal offshore websites currently operating in Canada. These sportsbooks offer better odds, fewer restrictions, and enticing promotions for new bettors.
There are no retail sportsbooks in NS, but the province is home to two casinos — Casino Nova Scotia Halifax and Casino Nova Scotia Sydney — which could host sportsbooks in the future.
The ALC has the green light to regulate legal single-game sports betting in NS but has yet to do so.
Status: No single-game betting
Nunavut is serviced solely by Sport Select, a platform overseen by the Western Canada Lottery Corporation (WCLC). Nunavut bettors experience the same betting limitations found in other provinces and territories. Without any retail sportsbooks or regulated single-game betting options, bettors are limited to in-person parlay wagers at select retailers.
Offshore sportsbooks are the best bet for Nunavut sports gamblers. Much more favourable wagers can be placed online with these licensed operators.
With Sports Select ready to launch single-game betting in Manitoba, there is hope this option will soon be available to northern sports bettors in Nunavut.
Status: No single-game betting
The Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA) is expected to receive the mandate to offer legal online sports betting in Saskatchewan.
Currently, Saskatchewan falls under the Western Canada Lottery Corporation (WCLC) umbrella and offers its residents legal sports betting through the Sport Select platform. Wagers can be placed at WCLC retail locations such as convenience stores and gas stations.
The Land of the Living Skies is home to nine casinos — six of which are owned and operated by SIGA — but none of these locations feature dedicated retail sportsbooks. If SIGA is given complete control and opts to launch physical locations down the road, they’ll have their pick of the many brick-and-mortar locations.
Status: No single-game betting
Yukon sports gambling is legal and regulated by the Western Canada Lottery Corporation. Sport Select is the lone option for offline betting, as there are no legal online sports betting alternatives offered by the WCLC. While Yukoners can research and make their picks online, all sports bets must be submitted at a select WCLC retail location.
For sports bettors seeking online action in Yukon, offshore sportsbooks remain the only option. These websites allow bettors to make single-game bets and place fewer limitations on users.
Regulators in Yukon have yet to release a timetable for their single-game betting plans.
Although it is legal to bet with offshore sportsbooks in Canada, it’s vital you stick with officially licensed platforms to have the safest online sports betting experience possible.
The team at Covers has poured hours of testing and analysis into each sportsbook to ensure Canadian bettors have the best experience possible when gambling online.
Here are Canada’s top five sportsbooks for 2021:
Canadian sports bettors can confidently place wagers with Sports Interaction. Also known as SIA, the online provider is licensed by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission in Canada. Sports Interaction not only offers competitive betting odds but a wide variety of betting options. Their top-notch customer support and secure banking keep them atop our list of best sportsbooks in Canada.
Our Sports Interaction review | Sign up for Sports Interaction
Bet365 has been a worldwide leader in online sports betting for more than two decades. The UK-based platform features a mobile app, a full library of bet types, and generous bonuses for new Canadian bettors. Bet365 is licensed and regulated by the Malta Gaming Authority and by the Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner.
Our Bet365 review | Sign up for Bet365
Betway’s dedicated mobile app is perhaps the best available in Canada. Combine this with its loyalty program, bonus offers, and a convenient live chat option, and you have an attractive option for Canadian sports bettors. Betway is a world-renowned online sportsbook licensed with the Malta Gaming Authority and UK Gaming Commission.
Our Betway review | Sign up for Betway
BetVictor is a reputable sportsbook option across the Atlantic and has also become one of the top choices for Canadian sports gamblers. BetVictor features a mobile app for on-the-go bets, excellent welcome offers for new bettors, and free, secure withdrawals. BetVictor is headquartered in Gibraltar and is licensed by the Government of Gibraltar and the UK Gambling Commission.
Our BetVictor review | Sign up for BetVictor
Pinnacle offers Canadian bettors some of the best odds in the sports betting game today. The online sportsbook’s no fluff, low-margin model allows it to serve up favourable lines and quick turnarounds on withdrawals. Pinnacle also offers plenty of banking options, fantastic customer support, and solid coverage of major professional sports. Licensed in both Curacao and Malta, Pinnacle remains one of the best sports betting options in Canada today.
Yes, it is legal to gamble online in Canada with any platform that has obtained a license to operate in its jurisdiction. This allows many offshore sportsbooks to operate in Canada without issue. Some provinces also offer lottery-run online sports betting.
Yes, bets can be placed online with any licensed online casino or sportsbook.
Absolutely! In fact, Sports Interaction is our top-rated legal online sportsbook in Canada for 2021.
Yes, bet365 is a world-renowned online sportsbook that operates legally in Canada.
You bet! Canadian bettors place legal sports wagers with Pinnacle every day.
It sure is! Betway is legal and operating in Canada.
Yes, it's perfectly legal to place wagers with BetVictor in Canada.
Canadian sports bettors can place bets online or in-person at a retail outlet. More local online options are coming in 2021 for some provinces, and retail sportsbooks could be introduced in the future as well.
Sports bets can be placed on your mobile phone by visiting one of the legal sportsbook websites listed above (some sportsbooks even have their own mobile app!). Just enter some personal information to complete the sign-up process, and you’ll be ready to place your first online sports bet.
No. Canadians are not required to pay taxes on sports bet winnings or any other form of gambling winnings. This money does not need to be reported to the CRA unless it is your main source of income. Then, taxes would be applicable.
Sportsbooks are required to report only their own gambling revenue to the CRA. Gamblers’ winnings do not need to be reported, as these funds are not taxable in Canada.
