New Brunswick sports betting is highly popular, but there are still many questions that people might have about the industry. That is only natural. There is a lot that has changed across the Canadian gambling industry in general. These changes have had far-reaching consequences, and they have altered the New Brunswick gambling industry as well.
Below, we’ll dive into the core issues that are defining the New Brunswick sports betting industry. We’ll cover the legality of the industry, who can gamble, and more.
Is Sports Betting Legal in New Brunswick?
Generally speaking, sports betting in New Brunswick is legal. Since the 1990s, bettors have been able to wager online on offshore operators. In the 2000s, the government launched its own sports betting service with Proline Stadium. In 2021, single-game betting came online in the state through the government-controlled Proline Stadium.
This is a lot of information that we’ve thrown at you, so let’s start to break things down a little bit. To do this, we’ll have to look back in time.
Bill C-218 was introduced in 2020 and passed in 2021. This bill removed the federal prohibition on single-game sports betting.
Single-game sports betting is when bettors wager on a single event or market rather than a parlay, which requires multiple outcomes to occur for it to cash. Before Bill C-218, New Brunswick residents could only place parlay bets on Proline Stadium. Once Bill C-218 was passed, Proline Stadium added single-game markets.
But if you go back even further, before Bill C-218, you’ll note the presence of offshore operators in New Brunswick. Offshore operators are sportsbooks that are not from Canada. They are licensed in different jurisdictions. These include betting sites like Bodog, Bet365, and 888Sport.
Offshore sportsbooks are available for Canadians to use. They exist as part of the gambling gray market. They are not fully legal, but also not illegal at all. The government doesn’t condone them, but bettors can use them if they choose to.
Once Bill C-218 was passed, a lot changed. Single-game betting in Canada became something that the government could regulate and oversee.
The only province to fully lean into this so far has been Ontario. They’ve opened the floodgates to the industry. Companies like BetMGM, FanDuel, and DraftKings have all entered the Ontario market and are available to Ontarians. These are not New Brunswick betting sites, as the provincial government does not let bettors use them.
The steps the Ontario government has taken might serve as an example in New Brunswick. The Ontario government has created a regulatory body to oversee the industry with iGaming Ontario. They can now tax these sportsbooks that are profiting off their citizens. That money is often returned to important causes.
In New Brunswick, this likely won’t be the case for a while. The government seems content with the status quo. The only provincially controlled operator in the province is Proline, which is run by the New Brunswick Lottery and Gaming Corporation. Offshore betting sites remain accessible.
The industry has seen shifts, but these things take time. There likely won’t be another hugely dramatic shift in New Brunswick’s gaming industry for some time now. But for now, bettors have an industry available to them where there are still plenty of exciting betting options.
Who Can Bet on Sports in New Brunswick?
Just because you are currently in New Brunswick doesn’t mean you can legally start gambling. There are several requirements that individuals must fulfill before they are able to place a bet on New Brunswick sportsbooks.
Let’s look at some of the pivotal requirements you’ll need to know before you can start New Brunswick sports betting.
- Age: To bet in New Brunswick, you must be at least 19 years old.
- Mobile Gaming: New Brunswick bettors are able to place wagers directly from their phones. There are apps available in the province.
- Location: To register with Proline, you need to have an address in New Brunswick. You are able to sign up online without visiting in person. However, you’ll need a fixed address here.
- Taxability: None of the winnings you make from betting in New Brunswick can be taxed. These do not fall into taxable earnings.
- In-Person Sportsbooks: There are no in-person sportsbooks available in New Brunswick.
Offshore Sportsbooks in New Brunswick
While many prefer to bet with the government-regulated Proline, offshore betting is still available in New Brunswick. Offshore websites are operators that are licensed outside of Canada but are legally able to serve the Canadian market. Some bettors prefer them, thanks to their lines being more favorable than Lotto-controlled operators like Proline.