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Canadian sports betting regulations

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Prospect
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Posted: #1
I am in the process of moving to Toronto from the state of Washington (where online betting is a felony).  As a WA resident, I have been unable to participate in any form of online betting on sports or casinos.  Once I am living in Toronto, what form of online betting can I legally participate in?  My limited understanding is that I will be able to place parlay sports bets online but not bet on single games.  To bet on single games, I would have to use illegal off-shore books.  Also I can participate freely in online casinos.  Is my understanding correct?  IF not, please enlighten me.  I hate the ban on single-game betting but at least I am getting out of my current prison in WA.  Thanks for any information.
 
Prospect
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Joined: Jun, 2012
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Posted: #2
In Ontario, the Provincial Lottery Corporation (OLG) does not have any online wagering available, only their Pro Line product which is available at retail (and requires the parlay at substantially shorter odds than you'd find online). As a Canadian, you can open up an account with an Offshore book but is not fully legal, but it doesn't mean it is illegal either! There you can bet single games. OLG does not have an online casino as of yet either. They are unfortunately miles behind British Columbia and to a lesser extent, Quebec and the Maritimes in this regard. At least you have somewhere to place bets now! Should Bill C290 pass, there will also be singles wagering in Ontario Casinios from what I understand.
 
Prospect
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Posted: #3
Thanks for the additional info on online betting in Ontario.  When you say that online betting is not fully legal but is not illegal either, are you saying that the government frowns on online betting but pretty much looks the other way when wagers are placed?  In other words, can I freely deposit money, bet on sports and play in the casinos, and make withdrawals from online books like Pinnacle without any hassles?  Thanks for any clarification.
 
Captain
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Posted: #4
when your settled in, got a ontario drivers license and whatnot, get a visa debit card from moneymart or a bank and you can get a account from bet365 or whatever online book you choose from.

you'll have no hassles, it's not legal but because it isn't taxable the goverment has no reason to get involved
 
Prospect
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Joined: Sep, 2012
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Posted: #5
Myself and plenty of friends bet online in Canada and I've never known any of them to even get a letter from a bank, government agency or sportsbook asking them to stop or anything let alone actual police arresting ppl, etc.

Just use a legit, legal book like bet365, pinny, etc


 
Captain
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Posted: #6

Offshore sportbooks may have slightly different requirements for registration. At minimum, you just need a Canadian address and perhaps a phone number for mailed moneyorders.  For credit card or online payments, personal information need to match banking information.

Mandatory parlay tickets are sold only at thousands of retail stores allowed by government lottery corporations in every province.

 
Captain
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Posted: #7
Quote Originally Posted by thirdperson:

For credit card or online payments, personal information need to match banking information.

 

In other words, you might need a Canadian credit card or Canadian bank account.  Since USA is a banned country, any American information might arouse suspicions.
 
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Posted: #8
you need canadian identification to make a withdrawal.
 
Prospect
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Posted: #9
Thanks for all the advice.  Looks like I am good to go as soon as I physically move to Canada.  I have all of my Toronto docs in order and a street address in Toronto.  But every time I try to log in from across the border, all of the red flags come up.

Another question:  Are the online casinos like Pinny legit?  Do you have as good (or bad) a chance of winning as playing at a brick & mortar casino like Casinorama or Niagara?
 
Prospect
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Joined: Sep, 2010
Posts: 128
Posted: #10
Well, I can add this as a gambler from Toronto.

First: Make sure your BANK allows withdrawals from your betting website. I use Bet365 and bank with Bank of Montreal BMO. I was previously a scotiabank customer and was frustrated with the banks policy for not allowing transfers from Bet365.

Second: Experience the differences between Casino rama which is in Simcoe (north of Toronto) and Fallsview (Niagara). Niagara is a tourist casino and the table limits are high. Rama is better IMO because the limits are lower, not really a tourist destination therefore not as busy and a better overall experience.

As far as I understand, sports betting is LEGAL in ontario, but NEVER play OLG because there odds are crap. Playing OLG is like a voluntary tax, why would you wager on those odds anyway?
 
Prospect
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Posted: #11
SEVKAK - Appreciate your tips re Bank of Montreal and casinos close to Toronto.  I've been to both Casinorama and Niagara and have to agree with you.  I've made some money at Casinorama but hated the Niagara experience.  Any experience playing at online casinos like Pinny?
 
Captain
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Joined: Jan, 2004
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Posted: #12
Just use an intermediary like insta debit and you shouldn't have to worry about bank restrictions.  I've been moving money in and out of pokerstars and other poker sites, pinny and bet 365 for close to a decade and never been questioned about anything.  
 
Veteran
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Posted: #13
Get an instadebit, matcbook, and pinnacle account. All you need after you get Canadian ID. 
 
Prospect
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Joined: Feb, 2014
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Posted: #14
Tenplay, google Canadian bill C-290 and hope it passes in the Senate.

All the best
 
 
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Posted: #15
Quote Originally Posted by tenplay:

I am in the process of moving to Toronto from the state of Washington (where online betting is a felony).  As a WA resident, I have been unable to participate in any form of online betting on sports or casinos.  Once I am living in Toronto, what form of online betting can I legally participate in?  My limited understanding is that I will be able to place parlay sports bets online but not bet on single games.  To bet on single games, I would have to use illegal off-shore books.  Also I can participate freely in online casinos.  Is my understanding correct?  IF not, please enlighten me.  I hate the ban on single-game betting but at least I am getting out of my current prison in WA.  Thanks for any information.

What canada dont need are illegal aliens from the USA. Please respect canadian immigration and get yourself a VISA or a working visa.
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