As the jingle “Good Things Grow in Ontario” goes, so does revenue from sports betting. The Canadian Gaming Association pegs the latest figure at more than $460 million annually.
The Toronto Maple Leafs drive the streetcar on the sports betting front and generate most of the betting traffic. However, Canada’s lone NBA and MLB franchises, the Toronto Raptors and Toronto Blue Jays, account for a large chunk of that action, too.
Sprinkle some professional soccer and football into the mix and you have a sports betting recipe that will continue to feed this large and hungry fan base. Our experts at Covers have produced a primer to help you navigate the world of online sports gambling in Ontario.
Population: 14.6 million
Sports betting legal age: 19
Online sports betting: Yes
Retail sportsbooks: No
Sports betting revenue: $463 million
#1 Top-rated sportsbook
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Online sports betting is legal in Ontario. Sports bettors in Ontario can access online sportsbooks without fear of reprisal from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) or the provincial regulator. The legal grey area regarding online sports betting in Ontario, which has not been addressed in any provincial law, stipulates that it is only illegal for players to bet at unlicensed sportsbooks. However, reputable offshore sportsbooks — and several Canadian entities — hold a license from some jurisdiction or another thus rendering the law unenforceable.
In Ontario, the legal age to bet on sports is 19. Gaming and sports betting in Ontario are legally regulated by the 1992 Gaming Control Act. Despite limitations imposed by the government, interest and action on sports betting in Ontario is surging.
The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) oversees offline sports betting within the province — we explore its nuances later in the guide — but online sports betting is far more accessible and aligned with the preferences and demands of today’s sports bettors.
The current regulatory environment for sports betting in Ontario does not reflect the current climate. Ontarians can place sports bets in-person at registered OLG outlets including convenience and grocery stores, among others. However, sports bettors in Ontario are clamouring for online products and that demand is being served by online sportsbooks — not OLG and its dedicated sports betting Pro-Line product.
Pro-Line is an odds-based sports betting product whose main features are often scrutinized by seasoned sports bettors in Ontario. The limitations are apparent. Players must predict outcomes on three-to six-event parlays — no single-game betting capabilities. The Government of Canada enacted this law in 1985 as a method to help prevent the incentive for match fixing and is still in effect today. Yet the biggest drawback and deterrent for some, are the unfavourable betting odds. They are less compelling compared to the sharp odds found at licensed online sportsbooks, where fierce competition translates to a more customer-friendly experience buoyed by more favourable betting odds.
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 have 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 cancelation of the 2019 season.
Our betting site reviews page is designed to help you find the best sportsbooks, all backed by the Covers BetSmart System™.
The sport of kings is well-served within the Ontario sports betting scene. Before COVID-19 restricted in-person spectators and bettors, visiting horse racing tracks in Ontario was an experience enjoyed by spectators and bettors alike.
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.
We recommend steering clear of the following online sportsbooks as they have been accused of various malpractices.
The legal age for sports betting is 19 years of age.
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.
Yes. You can place bets through any of the online sportsbooks mentioned within this guide.
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.
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