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
Legal age for sports betting: 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.
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.
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™.
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.
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.
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.
