New Brunswick Sports Betting (2024)

Betting in New Brunswick has taken off in recent years. Huge numbers of residents of the province have flocked to New Brunswick betting sites to place wagers on their favourite sports teams. If you are someone who is fascinated by the idea of New Brunswick sports betting and looking to get more information, you’ve come to the right place.

In this guide, we’ll explore some of the top Canadian betting sites that are available to New Brunswick residents. We’ll answer your biggest questions, like is sports betting legal in New Brunswick? Ultimately, you should feel comfortable getting started and exploring all that sports betting has to offer in the province.

How We Rank the Bookmakers

There are many New Brunswick betting sites that are available to gamblers. Bettors likely only want to use the best of the best, and we support that wholeheartedly. That is why, at BettingTop10, we only show the best of the best.

Whether you are looking for the top football betting operators or the best NHL betting operator, we rank and showcase the top options.

Below are the criteria we use to rank websites for sports betting in New Brunswick.

  • User Friendliness: Do they have a good interface? Is their website easy to use?
  • Coverage and Markets: Do they cover the top sports and leagues? Do they offer many different odds for each one?
  • Betting Offers: Do they have great promotions? Do they have a diversity of options?
  • Features: Do they offer plenty of fun and engaging features? How unique are their features?
  • Mobile Experience: Do they provide sports betting apps? If not, do they have a great mobile website?

Sports Betting in New Brunswick

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.

How to Start Betting in New Brunswick

We’ve explained the legality of New Brunswick sports betting. You now know that betting on sports in the province is legal. But there are still questions you might have, like how you can get started.

Getting started is a simple process. There are several key elements to the process that you’ll have to consider.

  1. You’ll have to pick a great sportsbook to start with.
  2. You’ll then need to register, which is easy and fast.
  3. You’ll need to deposit it into your account. More on that soon.
  4. Finally, you will be ready to start wagering. 

Once this is all taken care of, you are ready to start betting. But how? Below, we'll give you more details of the actual process of depositing, betting, and more.

Banking Options

Before you can start wagering, you need to fill your account. No matter what New Brunswick betting sites you are using, there will be a need to fill your account. To do that, you're going to need to deposit with an operator. This is a process that is safe as long as you are using a reliable betting site.

Most sportsbooks that are licensed can be trusted. They have cybersecurity in place that protects users' payment information in money. They also have a reputation to uphold, so any situation where gamblers' money is stolen can be potentially fatal to their success. The top operators all take this aspect of things very seriously.

There are several popular payment methods bettors can deposit or withdraw with. Below is a look at some of the most common ones bettors use.

  • Debit/Credit
  • Interac
  • E-Wallets
  • Cryptocurrency
  • Apple Pay
  • PayPal

Every transaction method and website has different processing speeds. Some process instantly, while others take up to days. Once the money hits your account, you can start gambling on the website you've chosen.

Hopefully, you'll make some money and will pull some out of your betting account into your bank account. To do this, you'll need to withdraw. Withdrawing money typically takes longer than depositing. The processing times are slower, and there are often fewer transaction methods. You might be required to submit a license or passport to verify your identity.

Overall, the banking process is one that should be relatively painless and effective. This is something most sportsbooks want to ensure.

Popular Sports to Bet on in New Brunswick

Sports bettors typically have a broad range of passions. Some like wagering on the soccer betting sites. Others prefer to lay down bets on NBA betting operators. Ultimately, everyone is different, and each person will want to put money on different outcomes.

But with that said, there are certain sports that seem to crop up most often with New Brunswick bettors. Let’s look at some of the different ones that are most common for New Brunswick sports betting. 

  • Hockey: Hockey is Canada’s biggest sport, and this is certainly the case in New Brunswick.
  • Baseball: Baseball is a historic, wildly popular sport, and many New Brunswick residents wager on MLB betting sites.
  • Soccer: Soccer betting is massive worldwide, and this is true in New Brunswick.
  • Basketball: Basketball has taken off across Canada, and many New Brunswick residents love wagering on NCAA and NBA events.
  • Football: While football is most popular in America, it is not far behind in Canada. New Brunswick residents are huge fans of football wagering.
  • Combat Sports: Combat sports are wildly exciting. Many New Brunswick gamblers put money on the biggest UFC and boxing bouts.

Most Popular Markets

Before you start betting, it is important to understand what exactly you are betting on. This is what markets are. Markets are the actual outcomes within a game or a league that bettors are placing their money on to either occur or not occur.

There are a lot of different markets that are hugely popular across New Brunswick and other Canadian betting regions. Let’s explore some of the markets that you can expect to see on most New Brunswick gamblers’ bet slips and break down what they are.

  • Moneyline: A Moneyline bet is a wager directly on the outcome of an event. If you bet a team on the Moneyline, you’ve picked them to win.
  • Point Spread: The Point Spread is the line that oddsmakers come up with to project the differential in a game in favor of one team. Bettors can bet for the spread, meaning the favored team will win by more than the differential, or against it, meaning they won’t.
  • Over/Under: The Over/Under is the line oddsmakers come up with that they project to be the total amount of points/goals/runs by both teams combined. Bettors can wager on the over or the under.
  • Future: A Future is a long-term bet on a league that won’t be settled straight away. It can, for example, be a bet on a player to win the MVP award or a team to win the championship.
  • Game Prop: A Game Prop is a bet on an outcome within a game that might not directly correlate to the final score. It can be something like which team will get the first basket, how many three-pointers Team A will have, and so on.
  • Player Prop: Player Props are like game props, but they’re based on individual performance rather than team results. An example would be betting on Player A to score in a hockey game or Player B to have 5+ assists in a basketball game.
  • Parlay: A Parlay is multiple bets that are tied under the umbrella of one. For a parlay to hit, every bet within it needs to hit.
  • Live Betting: Live Betting is wagering on games that are underway. The odds change as the game is played.

Other Bets

It isn’t just sports that bettors will find on New Brunswick betting sites. There are also other formats for wagering. Most betting sites will cover a huge range of things, many of which extend beyond just sports.

Let’s look at some of the other things you can bet on with New Brunswick sportsbooks.

  • Politics: On most sports betting sites, you can wager on politics. This means you can place bets on things like Prime Minister election results and so on.
  • Esports: Esports betting is something that many gamblers have embraced. Esports are video game competitions between world-class gamers, and most sportsbooks allow bettors to wager on the biggest events.
  • Entertainment: Everyone loves movies and TV shows, and most sportsbooks factor that into their coverage. This means bettors can wager on things like award shows, reality shows, and scripted TV outcomes.
  • Virtual Sports: Virtual Sports are simulated sporting events between computer-generated teams. It is something many bettors enjoy, as they are competitions between computer opponents with undetermined results.

Popular Teams in New Brunswick

While New Brunswick doesn’t have any professional sports teams, that doesn’t mean there aren’t passionate sports fans in this province. New Brunswick proudly cheers on a number of different franchises, most of which are based near them.

Let’s look at some of the sports teams that have achieved the most popularity in New Brunswick.

  • Montreal Canadiens: The Montreal Canadiens are the NHL team most New Brunswick residents tend to pull for. This original six franchise is legendary across Canada, and Montreal is not so far from New Brunswick.
  • Toronto Raptors: Canada’s only NBA team is beloved by Canadians from the Atlantic Coast to the Pacific. Many New Brunswick locals cheer on the Raps.
  • Toronto Blue Jays: The Blue Jays are Canada’s only MLB squad, and they are a highly talented group that New Brunswick residents root for.
  • New England Patriots: New Brunswick is not far removed from New England, where the Patriots play. Many cheer on this famed NFL franchise and tune in and wager every Sunday.

Other Types of Gambling

While we tend to focus on sports betting at BettingTop10, there is also plenty more to gambling, and we are interested in it all. Sports betting is just one branch of the big tree that is the online gambling industry, and many New Brunswick residents will also partake in other areas as well.

Below, we’re taking a look at some of the other types of gambling you can expect to find on the top New Brunswick betting operators.

  • Card Games: Card games are games bettors can play on sportsbooks that include things like poker, blackjack, and more. These games are against the computer and are entirely virtual.
  • Slots: Slots are another common choice for bettors. These are virtual versions of the slots that you’ll find at any casino around the world. Bettors simply click to start the slot machine and bet and win real money.
  • Tournaments: Some online sportsbooks will host major casino tournaments where bettors can compete in events against other gamblers.
  • Live Casino: Most sportsbooks offer a live casino, where gamblers can wager real money live against other bettors. There is a dealer who is running the game in real time through virtual means.

How to Play Responsibly in New Brunswick

While we’ve told you about the legality of betting in New Brunswick and the key aspects of the industry, we have yet to dive into a very important topic. That topic is how to gamble in New Brunswick responsibly.

Gambling can turn into a dangerous habit and an addiction if bettors aren’t careful and rigid in setting limits for themselves. If you want to ensure that you are having fun and not ruining the gambling experience for yourself, you need to take steps to avoid falling into dangerous behavior.

A major step to make is to practice payroll management. Set firm limits for how much you want to bet, and adhere to them. Don’t bet above your means. You can set limits for yourself on most sportsbooks, and doing so is definitely a good idea.

If you are struggling with gambling issues, there are resources available to you. In New Brunswick, you can call (1-800)-461-1234. This is a line that will take you to a government helpline that is entirely free, confidential, and available 24/7.

Sportsbook to Avoid

There are two primary kinds of sportsbooks that bettors in New Brunswick should be careful to avoid. The first is sportsbooks that are unlicensed. If something isn’t licensed, you can’t be sure of its safety and legitimacy. Tread lightly in that scenario.

The next thing to be watchful for is sportsbooks that have bad online reputations. If a betting site has bad user reviews and a negative online reputation, it might be a good idea to consider staying away.

Provincial betting Guide

While sports betting in New Brunswick is wildly popular, this province is far from the only place in Canada where you will find betting options. Below are guides to the other communities around the nation where sports betting is available.

Licensed Sites vs. Unlicensed Sites

Over the course of this guide, you’ve probably heard us refer to licensed and unlicensed betting sites several times. But what exactly does that mean? And how does that impact New Brunswick sports bettors?

Essentially, for a sportsbook to legally be able to operate in Canada, or anywhere else for that matter, they need to acquire licensing. Licenses come from regulators, typically governments. They will look over a sportsbook, analyze whether they are fair, whether they uphold important legal standards, and determine if they are safe. If they pass every test, they will get a license.

Meanwhile, if a sportsbook is unlicensed, that means that no one is overseeing them. They are not accountable to any higher regulatory body. Chances are, they might have something to hide. Unlicensed sportsbooks can’t be trusted because there is nothing to verify that they are not a scam or dangerous.

Licenses are displayed at the bottom of a sportsbook’s home page. Even if they are not licensed in Canada, it is important that you only gamble on a betting site with a license.

Proline Stadium

The only sportsbook that is government-regulated in New Brunswick is Proline Stadium. This is controlled by the lotto and gaming corporation in the province. It is a betting site that New Brunswick residents are able to use that allows them to wager on single events since the adoption of Bill C-218.

While Proline Stadium is the choice of many bettors, not all love their odds, which are significantly worse than competitors. But if you value the safety and security of a government-controlled operator, Proline Stadium is for you.

New Brunswick Sports Betting FAQs

We know how confusing it can get with the many different sources of information that are out there in the betting world. Betting is complex, and staying up to date can be a challenge. But we’re here to help.

Below are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about New Brunswick sports betting.

Yes! Sports betting is legal in New Brunswick. Bettors are able to wager on betting sites without any concern about breaking the law.

Yes! There is a government-regulated betting site that is available to New Brunswick residents. It is called Proline Stadium, and it is the provincially run operator controlled by the province's lottery.

Even though betting is legal in New Brunswick with Proline Stadium, you can still wager with offshore sportsbooks. While this isn’t necessarily endorsed by the government, bettors can do it without fear of repercussions. It is still important to always double-check that they are licensed.

Unfortunately not. Ontario has its own gambling rules that have come into effect. And because of that, there are a bunch of betting sites that only serve the Ontario market. So, not every betting site in Ontario can be found in New Brunswick.

For the time being, the only betting site that will be government-regulated is Proline Stadium. It is hard to predict what the future may hold, but for now, don’t expect the government to open the floodgates as Ontario has. 

New Brunswick residents love a large range of different sports, as everyone enjoys different games. However, if we were to pin it down to one sport, it is likely that it would be hockey. 

While there are unlicensed websites that you will find online, it is best to avoid them. If they are unlicensed, you can’t trust that they are safe and secure. Unlicensed operators can potentially be scams, so always check for a license.

Bill C-218 is the statute the government passed in 2021 that made single-game betting legal in Canada. It opened the door to the Canadian government having government-regulated betting operators.

Cameron is a 2020 graduate from the University of Southern California’s Journalism program. He is an avid sports fan and bettor, whose favourite teams include the Toronto Raptors, and the Chicago Bears. Cameron has been writing about and following sports since the age of 10, when he first fell in love with the NFL and NBA.