As one of the five largest markets in North America, Ontario presents the greatest opportunity for an open sports betting market in Canada. The province officially launched mobile single-game sports betting on Aug. 27, 2021, and took in over $6 million in bets in the month that followed.
Bill C-218, the Safe and Regulated Sports Betting Act, has Ontario on a promising trajectory. The nation’s most populous province is eager to operate an open and competitive market and is on track to welcome some of the biggest sportsbooks in the industry by December 2021.
Keep reading to learn more about the current sports betting landscape in Ontario.
Population: 14.7 million
Legal age for sports betting: 19
Online sports betting: Yes
Retail sportsbooks: No
Sports betting revenue: $463 million
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Yes, Ontario sports betting is legal. Parlay bets and pari-mutuel wagers have been permitted since 1985, and the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) has offered single-game online sports betting since Aug. 27, 2021.
Legal online sports betting arrived in Ontario in late August 2021. While an online option, PROLINE+, burst onto the scene on day one, it will take some time for the province to square away retail alternatives.
The timeline below summarizes Ontario’s road to legal single-game sports betting:
Ontarians were champing at the bit as they awaited the arrival of single-game online sports betting. PROLINE+ launched on Aug. 27, 2021, while PointsBet, theScore Bet, and other big industry players are expected to throw their hats into the ring in the near future. Ontario is planning a full launch of its competitive new iGaming market in December 2021.
In addition to the online operators about to enter the province, Ontario regulators are exploring options for possible retail sportsbook destinations.
The legal age to bet on sports online in Ontario is 19, and you must be an Ontario resident to bet with PROLINE+. If you’re 18 years of age, you can place in-person wagers at an OLG Lottery terminal.
Here's a brief overview of what sports bettors can expect in Ontario:
Legal ageSports bettors must be at least 19 if they wish to bet online in Ontario. Physical bets may be placed in-store at a lottery terminal by 18-year-olds.
Retail sportsbooksThere are no retail sportsbooks in Ontario. However, the province is investigating options for future physical locations. Naturally, Niagara Falls will be an attractive site for retail sportsbooks.
Mobile bettingMobile betting is now available in Ontario. With just a few taps, bettors are able to place single-game sports wagers from anywhere in the province. PROLINE+ is reserved for residents of Ontario only. The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) regulates all online sports betting in Ontario.
Remote registrationOntarians can sign up and place their first single-game bets from home, their favourite sports bars, or any other location in Ontario. Remote registration will remove the need to visit a local OLG outlet before placing a sports wager.
Within provincial bordersOntario sports bettors must have both feet firmly planted within provincial lines when placing a sports bet online on an AGCO-regulated platform. While online sports betting is already permitted in Manitoba and Quebec, each province manages and controls its own sports betting activity. Residents of Ontario are required to turn on location services and confirm their exact whereabouts before each wager.
Taxable winningsGambling profits are not taxed in Canada, so Ontarians can enjoy 100% of their sports bet winnings.
Ontario will look to be a trailblazer when it comes to sports betting in Canada. The province’s wish to remain an open and highly competitive market is sure to benefit sports bettors.
Retail sportsbooks should launch in Ontario at some point, but for now, the only way to physically place a bet is via an OLG Lottery terminal.
With the arrival of online betting, Ontarians are able to place single event wagers via a mobile device, tablet, or computer. Bettors can also submit their picks at an OLG Lottery terminal.
Ontarians will be flush with options soon enough, but PROLINE+ is currently the only provincially regulated online platform for sports bettors. Offshore sportsbooks will remain operational for the foreseeable future and should offer a superior betting experience in the short term.
Creating an online sportsbook account is a breeze in Ontario. Simply enter some personal information and confirm your identity, and you’ll be ready to get in on the sports betting action.
Offshore sportsbooks offer impressive signup bonuses to new bettors in Ontario. These include risk-free bets, deposit matches, and no-deposit bonuses. With an influx of AGCO-regulated sportsbooks set to enter the Ontario market in December 2021, you can expect these bonuses to be offered in spades.
Funding an account can be done in a matter of minutes. Sportsbooks accept several payment methods, including debit and credit, Interac e-Transfers, eChecks, and more.
Most deposits can be made free of charge but look over any relevant terms and conditions to avoid unexpected fees.
Ontario sports bettors already have access to all of the popular bet types when using offshore sportsbooks. With the arrival of single-game sports betting in Canada, local options are about to look a lot better as well. PROLINE+ offers moneyline bets, Over/Unders, props, live bets, point spreads, and more.
Once you’ve become familiar with the betting options and online sportsbooks, it’ll be time to lay down some action. Do your research and make sure you’re 100% comfortable with your first bet.
Ontario sports bettors can expect withdrawals to take a day or two to process. Some sportsbooks allow you to access your funds free of charge, while others may charge a few dollars when it’s time to cash out.
Reading the odds American odds are the most common way to display odds in North America and are the default option for online sportsbooks. These odds identify favourites and underdogs with minus (-) and plus (+) signs. You can spot a favourite by looking for a minus sign. The number next to the minus sign will tell you the amount you’d have to wager to win $100. For example, -160 odds indicate you need to bet $160 if you’d like to walk away with $100 in profit.
Conversely, a plus sign represents the underdog. The number that follows shows you what you stand to win should you place a $100 wager. For example, +250 odds tell you that a $100 bet would net you $250 in cold, hard cash.
Check out our odds converter to swap American odds for fractional or decimal odds.
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has established criteria that sports bets need to meet to be deemed acceptable. Specifically, any bet that appears to be unethical, dangerous, placed on a fixed event, or involves a majority of participants under the age of 18 is off-limits.
Awards ceremoniesPopular celebrity awards shows, such as the Emmy Awards, can be wagered on via PROLINE+ or an offshore sportsbook.
PoliticsThere are now plenty of political bets available to Ontario bettors on PROLINE+. Offshore sportsbooks like Sports Interaction also offer betting lines on political events.
EsportsThe AGCO will permit esports betting in Ontario, provided the majority of participants are 18 or older.
University sports have not been explicitly excluded in Ontario, so it remains to be seen if the province will allow these types of wagers. Sports bettors can find major events — such as the Vanier Cup — on some offshore websites.
While NFL rules the Ontario sports betting roost, the local roster of sports teams garners significant betting attention.
From the NHL, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators generate much of the online gambling action. The Toronto Raptors are Canada’s lone NBA franchise. Their 2018-19 title run galvanized the country and earned them throngs of fans from every province.
The two-time World Series champion Toronto Blue Jays have rebooted the franchise, giving Canada’s only MLB team a much-needed boost. Rounding out the Ontario sports betting scene, Toronto FC has cemented their status as a formidable MLS club while the Toronto Argonauts, holders of a CFL-record 17 Grey Cup championships, look to rebound following the cancellation of the 2019 season.
Our sportsbook review page identifies the best sites to place bets and each review is backed by the Covers BetSmart System™. Our how to bet guides are an excellent resource for beginners.
When it comes to gambling in Ontario, sports betting is far from the only game in town. You can find 28 casinos in the province, including seven in the Greater Toronto Area.
Woodbine Racetrack, located in Etobicoke, is the largest and most prominent racetrack in Ontario and features a standalone casino — Casino Woodbine.
CasinoThe Gaming Control Act of 1992 opened the doors to in-person casino gambling in Ontario. Today, the province is home to over two dozen OLG-operated commercial casinos and racinos. Ontario gamblers can enjoy a variety of table games and slots when visiting these locations.
The OLG also offers nearly 200 online casino games to Ontario residents. With the newly-established iGaming Ontario set to spearhead the province’s new online gambling initiatives, expect to see even more online casino options introduced later in 2021.
PokerThere are plenty of ways for Ontario card sharks to hone their skills. Live poker can be found at many of the province’s casinos, while online poker is available via the OLG.
Horse racingThe sport of kings is well-served within the Ontario sports betting scene.
OLG continues to modernize its operations and integrate horse racing into the province's overall gaming strategy. Online betting is big business at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario’s preeminent horse racing venue.
Additionally, these venues within the province accommodate in-person or offline betting only: Woodbine Mohawk Park (Campbellford), Rideau Carleton Raceway (Ottawa) and Fort Erie Race Track (Fort Erie).
Online sportsbooks provide comprehensive coverage of horse racing at popular Ontario racetracks like Woodbine, as well as major racetracks around the world. Bets can be placed through any of the sportsbooks highlighted earlier in the guide.
Daily Fantasy SportsBill C-218 officially legalized Daily fantasy sports (DFS). DraftKings and FanDuel have already set up shop in Ontario and have a stronghold on DFS contests in the nation’s most populous province.
With more than 25 years of excellence within the sports betting industry, Covers continues to provide Canadians with independent sportsbook reviews.
Whether you are looking for the best NFL sportsbook or the best site for live NHL betting, Covers has vetted the best places to bet online in Ontario. Canada is a big place, but we’ve gone local and assembled a list of the best online sports betting sites near you.
The following online sportsbooks should be avoided due to their questionable tactics and failure to provide adequate services.
Yes, sports betting has been legal in Ontario since 1985. Single-game betting is legal effective Aug. 27, 2021.
Single-game bets can be placed on PROLINE+ as of Aug. 27, 2021. Bettors can also submit their picks in person at an OLG Lottery terminal or bet online with an offshore sportsbook.
Ontario bettors can now make single-game wagers online with PROLINE+ or another offshore website. Bets include the moneyline, Over/Unders (totals), futures, live bets, and more.
PROLINE+ is the only online provincially-regulated sports betting platform in Ontario. Many more sportsbooks are expected to enter the market in December 2021.
Yes. You can place mobile bets with PROLINE+ or any of the top sportsbooks mentioned in this guide.
When private companies enter the Ontario market in December 2021, they will use the same odds as a sportsbook in Las Vegas.
The minimum age to bet in Ontario is 18, but you must be 19 years of age to place bets online or enter a casino or slots facility.
No. Sports betting in Ontario is permissible through retail stores operated by OLG. Players cannot bet on sports in casinos. However, they can do so via online sportsbooks.
Yes, you may place wagers on any professional team based in Ontario.
No, but you do have to be an Ontario resident to register on OLG.ca and bet with PROLINE+. Anyone physically located in Ontario can place wagers with the top offshore sportsbooks operating in Canada.
No. The CRA outlines the types of income that you do not need to declare on your tax return including “most lottery winnings.” Occasional lottery winnings in Canada are considered a windfall, according to the Canada Income Tax Act.
