Best CFL Betting Sites: Top Sportsbooks & How to Bet

The Canadian Football League is Canada's biggest professional football league and the second-biggest in the world. It is beloved across the nation and a big part of the Canadian sporting world.

In this guide to CFL betting sites, we’re going to dive into everything you need to know about CFL betting, exploring the sports betting sites, markets, and other aspects of the sport that bettors need to be aware of. By the end of this guide, you’ll be fully prepped to start laying down big bets ahead of the upcoming CFL season.

The CFL is a sports league that has been around since the 1950s officially, but its teams have been playing for more than 100 years. It is a football league played exclusively in Canada, with nine teams that face off vying for the chance to compete for the Grey Cup.

Naturally, it is incredibly popular in Canada, as it is our nation’s only professional football league, and it features incredible players from around the world. Betting on the CFL is wildly popular, as bettors flock to their favorite betting apps and sites to wager on their favorite teams and players.

This guide will serve as a breakdown of everything you need to know to bet on CFL events. We'll explore how the league works, the markets that are popular, the sportsbooks that cater to this league, and more. By the end, you'll have the entire lowdown on CFL betting sites. Are you ready to begin?

Before we dive too deep into the details, some bettors will likely have a question on their minds. Bettors might be wondering, is it legal to bet on CFL events in Canada?

There's no point looking for CFL betting lines or exploring sportsbook bonuses if CFL betting is illegal in Canada. Luckily, the answer to this question is that CFL bets can legally be placed across Canada.

Sports betting in Canada used to be something of a gray area. Bettors could use provincially-regulated sportsbooks only to make parlay bets, or they could choose to use offshore sportsbooks that were regulated outside of Canada or use tribally regulated sportsbooks, like Sports Interaction. These were all legal betting sites, but they weren’t government-endorsed.

Everything changed in 2021 when Bill C-218 passed. This bill made single-game sports betting no longer prohibited by the Canadian government. While they never would've punished anyone for betting before, the industry was technically not "legal," meaning the government didn't regulate it or support it, but also wouldn't enforce bettors for using sportsbooks.

This law opened the floodgates, as provinces could now legally allow single-game betting and regulate their own gambling industry. Ontario has been the first to fully enforce this by opening its gambling industry up. Ontario has allowed numerous brands from the United States to enter and created a regulatory body to control the gambling industry. Sports betting has taken off in the province, and others are expected to follow suit.

What this means for bettors in Canada is that wagering on CFL events is entirely legal. As long as you are using safe and licensed operators, you should have no significant cybersecurity or legality concerns. Even outside Ontario, where the sports betting industry is not as fully opened up, bettors can legally use CFL betting sites that are offshore or on tribal territory. All the sportsbooks we recommend are completely legal and safe. 

When we recommend a sportsbook to our users, that is something we take very seriously. We only want to showcase the best possible betting options for bettors, so we will look a sportsbook over from top to bottom, bet on their website, and get a sense of how it all works. Then, we will decide whether or not to recommend it to bettors.

There are several different criteria that we base this decision on. Let’s look at some of the criteria that define whether or not we will recommend a sportsbook as one of the best CFL betting sites.

• User Experience: One of the first things we look at is how a sportsbook looks and functions. If the design is sleek, the colors pleasant, and the layout easy to navigate, this all contributes to bettors enjoying themselves more.
• CFL Promotions: Sports betting bonuses are a big thing bettors look for on a gambling site. Betting offers can provide bettors with extra cash and increased winnings, so we look if a sportsbook has offers that are geared toward CFL bettors.
• CFL Coverage: While the CFL is a popular sport, not every sportsbook has odds available for this great league. So we check to make sure that not only do they have CFL odds and CFL lines, but they have fun markets and interesting ways to gamble on Canada’s biggest football league.
• Payment Options: Every bettor likes to pay for their bets differently. We think it is important sportsbooks have many different offers for bettors to pay with and that their banking process is smooth and easy.
• Reputation and Security: The most important thing for a sportsbook is that they are safe for bettors to use. This is something we try and ensure by looking at their cybersecurity policies. We also check what their users are saying about them online. 

While there are many different sportsbooks that offer CFL bets, there can only be a few top options. To help narrow it down for you, we’re providing a look at five operators that we believe to be the best CFL sportsbooks, offering users an excellent platform for gambling on their favorite league.

Before you start wagering on CFL betting odds on the websites we’ve highlighted, there are some steps you’re going to need to take. Every sportsbook, from CFL betting sites to NBA betting sites, requires users to go through a registration process. This is the process of creating an account on a sportsbook, and while every sportsbook has a different exact process, there are a lot of similarities. Below is a step-by-step look at what the typical account registration process would look like.

1. Pick Your Betting Site. Find the betting site that has all the features and sports coverage you are looking for. Consider all your options and select the one that is best for your individual needs.
2. Go Through the Registration Process. Now, you’ll need to go through the registration process to create an account. You’ll have to create login information, then provide personal details. These include your age, address, and other identifying facts. Some operators require passport or license pictures to verify your identity.
3. Deposit with the Sportsbook. You’ll then need to fill your account to start betting. You will have to select a deposit method, input your payment information, and put in how much you want to deposit. Don’t deposit more than you can afford to lose!
4. Start Your Betting. Once your account has money, you can then start your betting journey. With money in your account, you can bet on CFL

Recommendations

• Do Your Research. Find the best sportsbook for you.
• Check the Licensing. Make sure to check the license to ensure the sportsbook is legal and safe.
• Don’t be Afraid to Sign Up for Multiple Options. You don’t have to tick with the first operator you register with. Try multiple options to see what suits you.
• If You are Uncomfortable, Trust Your Gut. If a sportsbook is asking for strange info or making you feel uncomfortable, don’t use it!

One of the things a lot of bettors love most about using sportsbooks is promotions and bonuses. These are offers that a sportsbook has that can reward bettors for taking specific actions, whether through cash incentives or boosted winnings. Bonuses and promotions are found on just about every operator around.

Bonuses are a popular part of CFL betting. If you want to make CFL bets and earn additional winnings, bonuses, and promotions can help with this. Every operator has different promotions; some will offer promos specific to CFL events. Particularly for large events like the playoffs or Grey Cup, you'll find bonus offerings centered around the exciting game.

There are many different kinds of promos that can be found online. Let’s look at some of the ones that CFL bettors can benefit from the most.

• Welcome Offer: The Welcome Offer is something sportsbooks give new users as a reward for signing up and depositing with them. Typically, these come in the form of a matched deposit, where bettors will receive matched amounts of betting funds depending on how much they deposit.
• Free Bet: A Free Bet offer is a bonus that gives bettors a risk-free bet. Having one of these on a CFL event allows bettors to wager on a game, with the bettor receiving the winnings if the bet hits but not losing any money if it doesn’t.
• Boosted Odds: Boosted Odds are when a sportsbook takes the odds for a game and tweaks them to be more favorable to bettors. For example, an operator could take the Toronto Argonauts’ odds of winning a game and boost them from -120 to +110.
• Parlay Boosts: Parlay Boosts are when a sportsbook gives bettors additional winnings on parlays, with a scale increasing on percentage points. The more legs your parlay has, the more it will be boosted by this bonus.
• Reload Bonuses: A Reload bonus is when sportsbooks have a certain day when they reward bettors for depositing. This can come in a matched deposit or free bet offer.

There’s a lot to know about CFL betting. To help give you the complete ins and outs of the sport, we’ve created a guide that should explain many of the important things to understand about CFL betting. 

Before you start betting on the CFL, there are some things to understand about how the league works.

• A CFL game is played in four quarters. There is a half-time after the second quarter is completed. 
• The CFL consists of nine different teams, divided into the East and West divisions. The East Division has four teams, and the West Division has five.
• The teams play in a 21-week regular season. Each team has 18 games a year, with three bye weeks. At the end of the regular season, the top three teams from each division make the playoffs.
• The top team in each division gets a bye to the Division Finals and plays the winner of the game in their division.
• Finally, the top two teams play each other in the Grey Cup, the final championship game to dictate who will have their piece of CFL history. 

Let’s look at some of the most popular markets and betting types that you can find CFL betting odds for with a typical sportsbook. 

• Moneyline: Moneyline betting is when bettors wager on the direct outcome of a game, essentially picking a team to win. For example, if you’ve bet the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on the Moneyline, you’ve picked them to win.
• Double Chance: Double Chance betting is when bettors take two of the three possible outcomes in a game. Those three outcomes are Team A wins; Team B wins, or ties. Ties are exceedingly rare in the CFL, but this is still a market offered by some sportsbooks.
• Point Spread: Point Spread betting is when bettors wager on the score differential in a game in favor of one team. For example, if the Montreal Alouettes are playing the B.C Lions, the spread might be -7.5 Alouettes. That means the Alouettes are favored by 7.5 points. Bettors can wager for the spread, meaning the Alouettes win by eight or more points, or against it, meaning they will either lose or win by seven or less.
• Total: The Total is a line that represents the total combined points in a game between both teams. Bettors can bet the over, meaning the teams exceed the line, or the under, meaning they don’t.
• Futures: Futures are long-term bets within the league. For the CFL, bettors can wager on which team will represent the East/West in the Grey Cup, which team will win the Grey Cup, or who will win the Most Outstanding Player.
• Game Props: Game Props are outcomes within a game that don't necessarily dictate the final score. These can be things like which team scores first, who will score more in the third quarter, and how many penalties a team will have.
• Player Props: Player Props are also outcomes within a game, but they are tied to a player's performance. They can be things like which player scores the first touchdown, how many yards Zach Collaros will throw for, and more.
• Live Betting: Live betting is when bettors wager on a game as it is being played. The odds shift and change according to what is happening on the field.
• Parlays: Parlays are when bettors tie several different bets into a single bet. The odds multiply according to how many bets are within them, so the more bets, the higher the payout. But each bet within a parlay has to hit for them to cash.

One of the important components of CFL betting is the odds. CFL odds are different on every website bettors use. What this does is create a situation where bettors can shop for odds. Shopping for odds means bettors compare the different odds on different sportsbooks that they are considering wagering with. 

It is impossible to say which website has the best CFL betting odds because it is dependent on what you are hoping to wager on. Let’s look at an example. 

Say the Calgary Stampeders are facing off against the Edmonton Elk. On Betway, the Stampeders are -120 to win, while the Elk are +110. On PowerPlay, the Stampeders are -140, and the Elk are +130. 

If you wanted to bet on the Stampeders, Betway would be the place to do it, as their odds of -120 are more favorable to you. If you wanted to bet on the Elk, PowerPlay would be better for you, as their odds of +130 are better for you. This is why it is always crucial to compare odds.

Features are the embedded parts of a sportsbook that define what bettors can do on their website. Let’s look at some of the essential features that all great CFL betting sites need to provide.

• Live Betting: Live betting is a feature that every sportsbook absolutely needs to have. It enables users to bet on games while they are being played, meaning the action doesn’t stop when the game kicks off.
• Live Streaming: Live streaming is a less common feature but one many bettors prioritize. Live streaming is when a sportsbook allows users to watch games directly from the website. This is rare, but you can watch CFL games as you bet on them.
• Cash Out: Cash Out is a feature that corresponds with live betting. Bettors can exit bets before they’ve finished. Depending on how the bet was performing, they can cash out at a win, getting more money than they staked, or at a loss, recouping at least a portion of their initial investment.
• Bet Builder: The Bet Builder feature is one that is great for CFL betting. Bettors can make customized, same-game parlays within a single event. That means bettors can pick the Moneyline, total, and player props and parlay them together- all in the same game!
• Cryptocurrency Transactions: Many bettors love cryptocurrency and find that using it for gambling is a blast. Some sportsbooks will enable bettors to deposit their cryptocurrency into a sportsbook and use it to bet.
• Stats Page: The Stats Page is part of a sportsbook where bettors can view different stats and updates that can help them build their betting strategy. This is helpful in getting insight into how players and teams are performing. 

Like with every other sport, when betting on CFL events, you need a comprehensive strategy. The CFL is its own league that stands apart from any other, so catering your strategy specifically to the CFL is an important step necessary to succeed when wagering on this sport.

There are certain basic tips bettors need to use when CFL betting that applies to every other sports league. The first is to practice conscious money management. Don't bet above your means, and don't chase your losses. No matter how good you are at betting, you are not as good as you likely think you are. Exercise restraint, be cautious, and bet with your brain, not with your heart. Most importantly, know when to cut and run!

With that said, let’s look at some important details that can help shape your betting strategy and ensure you are safely and effectively wagering.

Singles vs. Parlays

It is important to know the difference between single and parlay betting, as well as when to use each when betting on CFL events. Let’s look at both these types of betting and when the right time to use them is.

Single-game betting is when bettors are wagering directly on a single outcome. This can be Moneyline, point spread, total, or any other kind of market. But the bettor is just picking one single outcome.

Parlay is when bettors tie multiple bets into one. So they can pick different outcomes in the same game or multiple outcomes from different games and tie them into one bet. Each bet within the parlay needs to cash for the parlay to hit. If you had a 12-leg parlay, and 11/12 hit, the bet is still a failure.

The key thing to understand with parlays and single betting is that parlays tend to be high-risk, with higher rewards. Bettors rely on multiple things to happen, which means more can go wrong. But parlays tend to have higher possible payouts, which is why many bettors use them.

It is important not to get carried away with parlay betting; use parlays wisely. Single bets are safer and can still yield exciting payouts. Parlays are a great gambling tool but exercise caution.

CFL Betting Trends and Tips:

• Road Underdogs Off a Loss are Profitable Against the Spread: One interesting tidbit of information is that teams that are coming off of losses in the CFL are on the road, and underdogs in the game, have actually been profitable if you collect all the data dating back to 2005. While that goes against conventional wisdom, it is true!
• Examine Matchups: It is always important to examine the matchups when betting on the CFL. Certain teams have passing-based offenses or shutdown defenses. See which teams have the best quarterbacks, how the passing defense or rushing defense fares, and you'll have some important insights into the game.
• Monitor the Weather: All CFL games are played in Canada, and while they are mostly played in warmer months, the weather is a factor. Always check the weather report for a game to be sure there will be no disruptive weather on the forecast.

How to Bet on the CFL From an NFL Perspective

Remember, the CFL and the NFL are two different leagues, and sometimes it feels like they might be different sports. While many bettors flock to NFL betting sites, fans of the NFL should still look to CFL betting sites for fun and football-centric betting. It is just important to know about the key differences between CFL betting before you do so.

We’ll get into more details about the differences between the CFL and the NFL later, but we’ve quickly highlighted some things NFL fans should know about the CFL before they start wagering.

• CFL has a bigger ball
• CFL has wider fields
• CFL has rouges
• CFL has three downs
• CFL doesn’t have fair catches
• CFL has field goal posts in the field

Every port, and every betting site, has different rules. The CFL is its own unique league, so every operator will have different rules that govern CFL gambling. Let’s look at some of the most important CFL betting rules to be aware of that represent the industry standard.

• If a game is postponed more than 60 hours, all bets are void
• If a game is postponed or canceled midway through, bets are void unless they have already finished (i.e., the game is canceled in the third quarter, and bettors wagered on the first-quarter points total)
• Overtime counts toward the spread, total, and moneyline
• If a score ends in the same differential as the spread or total, the bet is void and returned
• Season-long bets only factor in stats from the regular season
• For touchdown scorer markets, passing touchdowns don’t count

Every year, the Canadian Football League season culminates in one explosive event that defines who will be the champion of the league. The East division’s winning teams and the West division’s winning team face off in a final game that determines the victor of the season. That game is the Grey Cup.

The Grey Cup is a betting extravaganza, with hundreds of thousands of Canadians tuning in and wagering on the occasion. It is like the Super Bowl of the CFL, an exciting spectacle that features famous half-time shows, uniquely exciting broadcasts, and plenty to get excited about.

The Grey Cup is the pinnacle of CFL betting and a time when even casual fans of the league tend to tune in. There have been some truly legendary showings on the Grey Cup stage, and it is a must-watch for football fans of any kind.

Below, we’ll look at some of the differences and similarities that can be found between Super Bowl and Grey Cup betting.

Grey Cup Betting vs. Super Bowl Betting

• Different Timing: The Super Bowl is set in February of every year. Because the CFL season starts earlier, the Grey Cup is played in November of every year, in the middle of the NFL season.
• Massive Spectacle: What they both have in common is that these events are more than just a game. They are spectacles, with huge halftime shows and a lot of added aspects that transcend the sport.
• Can Find More Markets Than Ever: Both games are the peak of betting for their league, so sportsbooks tend to offer the most markets and odds for these games. You can typically find dozens of CFL betting lines on the Grey Cup for an array of markets.
• Shorter Playoffs for CFL: The NFL playoffs are typically four weeks, with a one-week bye. The CFL playoffs normally lasts three weeks of games, with the one-seed in each division only having to win one game to reach the Grey Cup.
• Grey Cup is Less Watched: Ultimately, the NFL is king, and nothing surpasses the viewership of the Super Bowl. While the Grey Cup has plenty of viewers, it pales in comparison to the Super Bowl.

If you are just getting started on your CFL fandom, there is a lot to catch up on. Getting to know the top teams and players in the sport is important because it will help you with your CFL betting results. We are here to help with that. Below, we're exploring both the top teams and players to know about the sport.

Most Popular CFL Teams 

• Winnipeg Blue Bombers: Founded in 1930, the Blue Bombers might be the team with the most devoted fan base. They have found massive success in recent years, including Grey Cup victories in 2019 and 2021.
• Edmonton Elks: The Edmonton Elks are a team that has been around, albeit under a different name, since 1949. They have a devoted group of fans and have won 14 Grey Cups since their founding, most recently in 2015.
• Saskatchewan Roughriders: The Roughriders are one of the most historic football teams in the world, dating back to 1910. They are the biggest show in Regina and have a stadium that fills with fans. They’ve only won four Grey Cups in their long history.
• Toronto Argonauts: The Toronto Argonauts may be low in the professional sports ecosystem in Toronto, but they still draw many fans. They've won 18 Grey Cups, most recently in 2022. 

Top CFL Players

• Zach Collaros: Collaros is the reigning 2x MVP, winning the previous seasons back-to-back. He is a quarterback who has led the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to victories in the 107^th and 108^th Grey Cups.
• Dalton Schoen: Dalton Schoen broke out in his rookie season for the Blue Bombers, leading the league in receiving yards and touchdowns. He and Collaros form a deadly duo.
• Lorenzo Mauldin: Even if not much has gone right for the Redblacks in the past couple of seasons, Mauldin is a beast. He led the league in sacks and won the Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award.
• Ka’Deem Carey: This is a controversial inclusion, but Carey looked dynamic for the Stampeders, leading the league in rush yards and averaging 6.6 yards per carry.

While placing CFL bets is highly popular, many gamblers are more familiar with the other major football league in North America, the National Football League. The NFL is hugely popular, the biggest sports league on the planet. But just because you enjoy one doesn't mean you can't enjoy the other.

There are specific differences between the CFL and NFL that make the two leagues very different. Let’s look at what those differences are.

• CFL Has a Bigger Field: The CFL has a wider and longer field which contributes to a more spread-out passing offense. Players are also able to run u to the line of scrimmage.
• CFL Has Alternative Scoring Options: In the CFL, if a ball is kicked or punted out of the back of an end zone, it counts as a rouge, which gives a team one point.
• CFL Has Three Downs and a Bigger Ball: The CFL ball is bigger and harder to grip than an NFL ball. The league also has only three downs rather than four, so teams need to be more aggressive.
• CFL Has Fewer Teams: The CFL only has nine teams compared to 32 in the NFL, so all teams play each other, and there is more familiarity.
• There is No Fair Catch in the CFL: The CFL does not have a fair catch rule. Players do have to give the receiving player room to catch the ball, though.

Below, we’d like to give bettors the answers to some of the most Frequently Asked Questions about CFL betting.