Legal Online Sports Betting in Canada in 2023

Is sports betting legal in Canada?

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. Prior to Aug. 27, 2021, 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.

Why legalize single-game sports betting in 2021?

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.

In 2023, It remains unclear how most Canadian provinces will decide to regulate this new legal form of sports betting. Aside from Ontario and Alberta, no province has shown any indication they will welcome third-party operators to town. BC could eventually expand its sports betting offering to include commercial sportsbooks, but bettors shouldn't expect this to happen any time soon.

Still, at the very least, Canadian bettors are no longer tied to needlessly complicated parlay bets. The onus is now on each province and territory to make regulated sports betting appealing enough to prevent local bettors from flocking to offshore websites.

When did single-game betting arrive?

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. 

Interestingly, few Canadians are in the know when it comes to single-game wagering. According to a Fall 2021 survey sponsored by Deloitte Canada, only 19.2% of Canadians are aware they can bet on a single event.

While every province has made single-game betting available via their lottery-run platforms, expect a slower rollout for retail sportsbooks. Several provinces may decide to stick with their existing platforms and forego an extreme overhaul of their sports bet offerings. As of January 2023, Ontario is the only province with dedicated retail sportsbooks.

Provinces where single-game sports betting is legal

Seven provinces — British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, and Quebec — offered single-game online sports betting right out of the gate. Alberta quickly followed suit while Saskatchewan, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Yukon legalized single-event wagering at retail outlets in November 2021. Nova Scotia was the last province to introduce single-game bets to its residents. The Atlantic Lottery Corp. announced it had begun taking single event wagers on Feb. 11, 2022.

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 has already led to big industry players putting their stamp on the ON sports betting market. Conversely, provinces with smaller populations may limit bettors to their respective lottery offerings. For this reason, grey market 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:

Is sports betting legal in Alberta?

Status: Legal (online + retail)

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). WCLC introduced retail single-game betting on Nov. 1, 2021 — Sport Select now allows Albertans to confirm single-event picks in person.

AGLC is preparing to welcome two additional sportsbook operators to Alberta in 2023. The crown corporation began accepting applications from third-party vendors on Dec. 10, 2021, hoping to identify two operators that can work with the province's casinos to offer retail and online wagering.

As for online and mobile sports betting, PointsBet Canada has expressed early interest in becoming one of the first private digital operators in the province.

Alberta sports bettors do already 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 single-game betting, parlays, point spreads, and prop bets. Futures betting was introduced in November 2021.

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. 

Is sports betting legal in British Columbia?

Status: Legal (online + retail)

Canada’s westernmost province launched single-game sports betting on PlayNow.com on Aug. 27, 2021. On Nov. 1, 2021, the BCLC announced PlayNow took in over $25 million in single-game sports bets in the two months following the legalization of single-game wagering.

British Columbia offers legal sports betting in person and online. 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. 

Is sports betting legal in Manitoba?

Status: Legal (online + retail)

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. WCLC's Sport Select platform has offered retail single-game betting since Nov. 1, 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 single-game 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.

During a Jan. 11, 2022, legislative committee hearing, Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries president and CEO Manny Atwal discussed the province's need to expand its online gaming presence. Still, PlayNow.com is expected to bring in $50-$60 million in revenue in the fiscal year 2021.

Is sports betting legal in New Brunswick?

Status: Legal (online + retail)

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.

Is sports betting legal in Newfoundland and Labrador?

Status: Legal (online + retail)

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. 

Is sports betting legal in Nova Scotia?

Status: Legal (online + retail)

Single-game betting arrived in Nova Scotia on Feb. 11, 2022 — just in time for Super Bowl 56.  After launching single-event wagering in New Brunswick, Newfoundland & Labrador, and P.E.I. in August 2021, the Atlantic Lottery Corporation (ALC) finally received the go-ahead in "Canada's Ocean Playground."

On July 21, 2022, ALC launched its online casino product in Nova Scotia.

The 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.

Is sports betting legal in Ontario?

Status: Legal (online + retail)

The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. began offering legal online single-game betting via a brand new online product — PROLINE+ — on Aug. 27, 2021. On Feb. 1, 2022, OLG announced that single-event wagering had also launched offline via the province's PROLINE platform. 

Ontario residents and visitors now have the ability to place legal wagers at over two dozen provincially regulated sports betting sites, four Great Canadian Sportsbooks, and Caesars Sportsbook Windsor.

Caesars Sportsbook is open for business in Windsor after NHL Hall of Fame goaltender Grant Fuhr placed the first bet on Jan. 11, 2023.

On Oct. 28, 2022, Great Canadian Entertainment announced that 10 GCE casinos had begun taking in-person sports wagers. Elements Casino Brantford, Great Blue Heron Casino and Hotel, Pickering Casino Resort, and Shorelines Casino Belleville launched full-fledged sportsbook lounges.

On Oct. 4, 2022, the AGCO announced that grey market operators looking to enter Ontario's regulated market would have to cease operations on Oct. 31 if they haven't signed operating agreements with iGaming Ontario.

Canada’s most populous province set its new competitive iGaming market live on April 4, 2022. The AGCO has approved over 50 online gaming operators (29 sports betting sites) to date, including DraftKings, FanDuel Ontario, BetRivers Ontario, bet365 Ontario, PointsBet Canada, and theScore Bet. Twenty-seven (27) sports betting sites have executed iGaming Ontario operating agreements and launched in Ontario. 

Bet99 is the latest sportsbook to join Ontario's regulated market (Nov. 1, 2022).

Pinnacle re-entered Ontario on Oct. 26, 2022, while Betano launched its Ontario betting site a week earlier, on Oct. 19, 2022.

BetVictor and Sports Interaction re-launched their sports betting and casino sites on Sept. 27, 2022, and Aug. 29, 2022, respectively.

PROLINE, OLG's sportsbook product, became an official sports betting partner of Major League Baseball on June 16, 2022. The partnership includes cross-promotion across MLB's digital channels, the use of MLB logos, and free-to-play digital games offered throughout the season.

On June 13, 2022, PointsBet Canada announced it had become the official sports betting partner of ClubLink, the largest owner and operator of golf clubs in Ontario.

On May 25, 2022, Kings Entertainment Group Inc. and Sports Venture Holdings Inc. (SVH) reached an agreement to combine their businesses. Bet99, an SVH subsidiary-owned sportsbook, expects to be among the beneficiaries of the merger should it successfully execute an iGaming Ontario operating agreement.

Industry titan DraftKings launched its online sportsbook and casino on May 18, 2022. Previously, on Nov. 4, 2021, the sportsbook joined FanDuel as the NBA's official sports betting partner in Canada.

iGaming Ontario — a subsidiary of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) — manages all online gambling through third-party operators.  

Is sports betting legal in Prince Edward Island?

Status: Legal (online + retail)

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. 

Is sports betting legal in Quebec?

Status: Legal (online + retail)

Sports bettors in Quebec (visit this Québec page for the en français version) 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.

Is sports betting legal in Saskatchewan?

Status: Legal (online + retail)

On Nov. 3, 2022, the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA) confirmed that PlayNow.com had gone live in SK.

Western Canada Lottery Corporation quietly introduced single-game sports betting on Nov. 1, 2021, via a new-look Sport Select. While all picks must still be confirmed in person at a participating retailer, Saskatchewan residents are now able to wager on a single sporting event.

Saskatchewan sports bettors are currently limited to PlayNow.com for online sports betting and the Western Canada Lottery Corporation's (WCLC) Sport Select platform for in-person wagers. When betting offline, Saskatchewan sports bettors can place wagers at WCLC retail locations such as convenience stores and gas stations. Of course, like all Canadians, Saskatchewanians also have the option of betting online with any of the top offshore sportsbooks operating legally in Canada. 

The Land of the Living Skies is home to nine casinos — seven of which are owned and operated by SIGA — but none of these locations feature dedicated retail sportsbooks. If SIGA opts to launch physical locations down the road, they’ll have their pick of the many brick-and-mortar locations.

On June 6, 2022, the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA) signed an agreement with the British Columbia Lottery Corp. (BCLC), which will provide its PlayNow.com platform to players in the province. The addition of PlayNow will help expand legal Saskatchewan sports betting.

On Sep. 23, 2021, SIGA announced plans to launch online single-game sports betting in 2022 via a new gambling website and app. Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority will grant the new app a five-year window of exclusivity, meaning no competing sports betting sites will enter the SK market until 2027 at the earliest.

Is sports betting legal in the Northwest Territories?

Status: Legal (retail only)

Single-game sports betting has arrived in the Northwest Territories. As of Nov. 1, 2021, residents can now bet on the result of a single event with Sport Select. Northwesters are still awaiting fully online betting, however.

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.

Is sports betting legal in Nunavut?

Status: Legal (retail only)

On Nov. 1, 2021, WCLC launched a revamped Sport Select product. The platform now allows Nunavut bettors to place single-game wagers at local retail outlets. Residents can build their tickets online, generate a QR code, and confirm their picks in person.

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 several other provinces and territories. Without any retail sportsbooks or online betting options, bettors are limited to in-person wagers at select retail outlets.

Offshore sportsbooks are the best bet for Nunavut sports gamblers. Much more favourable wagers can be placed online with these licensed operators.

Is sports betting legal in Yukon?

Status: Legal (retail only)

Yukon bettors received good news on Nov. 1, 2021, as single-game sports betting made its way to the Land of the Midnight Sun. Residents can now submit single-event wagers with Sport Select at participating retail outlets.

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.

Latest Canada betting news

Safest Canada betting sites for 2023

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 trusted sportsbooks for 2023:

1. Sports Interaction 

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

2. BetVictor

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

3. Betway 

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

4. bet365 

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

5. Pinnacle 

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.

Our Pinnacle review   |   Sign up for Pinnacle