In 2021, Canada officially welcomed single-game sports betting as a legal option. Since then, many millions of dollars have been placed in bets coast-to-coast.
While sports betting is legal across the country, the different provinces have their own laws which sportsbooks need to follow. In every province, the use of offshore betting sites remains legal.
There are multiple legal betting options in Canada, and they vary between provinces. In order for a brand to be fully legal, it must be approved by the province’s relevant legal entities. This means every betting brand needs to apply for a license for each province it wants to operate in.
Betting brands that are legal in Canada must prominently display which regulator approved them. For example, in Ontario, both iGaming Ontario and the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) are possible.
Ultimately, despite some possible confusion, bettors are able to wager confidently on licensed sports betting sites in Canada without concern of running afoul of the law.
Betting in Canada by Province
When reviewing a site, we always check to ensure that they are legal in Canada and, specifically, in the relevant provinces. Each province has its own governing body that betting sites need to abide by in order to be legal. As well, the governing bodies need to license the betting site, confirm approval and grant permission.
Single-gaming betting became legal in Canada in 2021. Sports betting is safe and legal across the country.
What’s great is that the betting industry is heavily regulated in Canada. Sports betting sites need to apply for licenses in the specific provinces in which they intend to offer their services. This means that a company trying to break into the Ontario market will need to be approved by the AGCO and iGaming Ontario.
This is excellent news for bettors, who know a company backed by these organizations is a trusted supplier. When choosing a sportsbook, you must ensure it is regulated by the governing body in your specific province; this will protect you as a bettor.
So, before signing up for a betting site, make sure it is regulated by the governing body in your province and that the betting site has good security features.
The governing bodies of the Canadian provinces are as follows:
- Ontario – iGaming Ontario, Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. (OLG). Ontario residents have access to a vast amount of regulated operators.
- Alberta – Western Canada Lottery Corp. PlayAlberta is currently the only government-licensed sportsbook in the province, but they have access to offshore operators.
- British Columbia – British Columbia Lottery Corp. PlayNow BC is the only government-regulated sportsbook in British Columbia. But residents can also enjoy the entire range of offshore sportsbooks.
- Manitoba - Western Canada Lottery Corp. PlayNow Manitoba is similarly the only operator licensed within the province. Manitoba residents can still enjoy a range of available offshore sportsbooks.
- New Brunswick — Atlantic Lottery Corp. The provincial ProLine operator is the major licensed operator within New Brunswick. Quality offshore options can still be used within New Brunswick.
- Newfoundland and Labrador — Atlantic Lottery Corp. Much like New Brunswick, ProLine is the operator to use in Newfoundland. But there are also offshore options that can be wagered on in Newfoundland.
- Nova Scotia — Atlantic Lottery Corp. Like the rest of the East Coast, ProLine has a hold of the Nova Scotia market. Residents of this charming province can also wager with offshore operators.
- Prince Edward Island — Atlantic Lottery Corp. P.E.I. is also offered the benefits of ProLine by the Atlantic Lottery Corp. Residents can also choose to wager with offshore operators.
- Quebec — Loto-Québec. In Quebec, the only provincially regulated operator is Mis-O-Jeu. But bettors still have the same option as every other province, so they can wager with offshore sportsbooks.
- Saskatchewan/Nunavut, Yukon and Northwest Territories — Western Canada Lottery Corp. Saskatchewan uses PlayNow, while Nunavut and the Northwest Territories rely on Sports Select. Yukon does not have a provincially regulated operator. However, all of these provinces can wager with offshore platforms.